In this Season Two kickoff episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth look back at their Top 10 books of 2025, spanning sci-fi, fantasy, romantasy, literary fiction, and standout nonfiction that reads like fiction. From epic, immersive reads and thought-provoking classics to surprising favorites and an audiobook honorable mention, they reflect on reading habits, bookish stats, and what makes a story truly memorable. Stick around to the end for the big reveal of the podcast’s 2026 theme.

00:56 Top 10 Books of 2025

02:31 Similar Books in our Top 10

03:59 Long Books and Epic Reads

05:27 Medical Insights in Fiction

06:57 Stephen King's Dark Tower Series

08:00 Romantasy Reads and Sequels

10:28 Book Club Favorites

13:31 More of Elizabeth's Top 10 Books

23:15 Rounding Out the Top 10

25:12 Andrea's Favorite Audiobook of the Year

26:16 Number of Books Read for the Year

27:07 Epic Trilogies for 2026

Books Mentioned

A Psalm for the Wild-Built — Becky Chambers (Andrea & Elizabeth)

The Dispossessed — Ursula K. Le Guin (Andrea & Elizabeth)

Awry with Dandelions — J.S. Fields (Andrea)

The Covenant of Water — Abraham Verghese (Elizabeth)

Wolves of the Calla — Stephen King (Elizabeth)

The Moonday Letters — Emmi Itäranta (Andrea)

Water Moon — Samantha Sotto Yambao (Andrea)

Quicksilver — Callie Hart (Andrea)

When the Moon Hatched — Sarah A. Parker (Andrea)

All the Colors of the Dark — Chris Whitaker (Andrea)

By Any Other Name — Jodi Picoult (Andrea)

Wellness — Nathan Hill (Elizabeth)

Bel Canto — Ann Patchett (Elizabeth)

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland — Patrick Radden Keefe (Elizabeth)

James — Percival Everett (Elizabeth)

Squeeze Me — Carl Hiaasen (Elizabeth)

In the Heart of the Sea — Nathaniel Philbrick (Elizabeth)

Blood Over Bright Haven — M.L. Wang (Andrea)

Honorable Mention: Best Audiobook

You Didn’t Hear This From Me: Mostly True Notes on Gossip — Kelsey McKinney, narrated by the author

Referenced Articles and Media:

New York Times: The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/best-books-21st-century.html

The Global Wellness Economy Hits a Record $6.8 Trillion and Is Forecast to Reach $9.8 Trillion by 2029

https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/press-room/press-releases/the-global-wellness-economy-hits-a-record-6-8-trillion-and-is-forecast-to-reach-9-8-trillion-by-2029

The Smithsonian Magazine - The Snakes That Ate Florida

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/snakes-ate-florida-180972534/

Freakonomics Podcast - The First Great American Industry

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-first-great-american-industry/

In the Heart of the Sea - IMDB

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1390411/

Andrea and Elizabeth dive into their December book pick, Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao. This listener voted book pick made it to the second round of the Goodreads Choice Awards, is discussed in detail, including its synopsis and thematic elements. The story follows Hana Ishikawa, the new owner of a mystical pawn shop in Tokyo, as she embarks on a journey to find her missing father. The hosts analyze the book's Ghibli-esque charm, poetic writing, romantic subplot, cultural references, and philosophical themes. They conclude with their ratings and comparisons to similar works, recommending it to fans of Japanese cozy fantasy and those intrigued by magical realism.

Spoiler Alert: We do go into spoilers mid-episode!

Content Note: This episode discusses themes of regret, reproductive choice (including implied abortion), and pregnancy/childbirth.

02:35 Meaning of the Title

05:49 Romance Sub-plot

10:15 Fictional Folklore

12:01 Japanese Vocab

14:26 Dreamlike Reflections of the Real World

18:47 Well, What About?

22:49 Spoilers and Interpretations

25:15 Flying Paper Birds

26:44 Folding the Cover

28:34 Ratings

29:53 Other Similar Books

31:16 Closing Remarks

Similar Book Recommendations

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

Similar Movie Recommendations

Spirited Away

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Inception

Other Books with Flying Paper Birds

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A Parker

What is the Super-Kamiokande?

https://www-sk.icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/sk/about/outline/

No Face from Spirited Away

https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/No-Face

Kitsune from Japanese folklore

https://www.britannica.com/topic/kitsune

The Art of Japanese Ceramics Repair - Kintsugi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi

Water Moon themed Playlist on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/25kdPSzyM0b9w6v0T7LYEV?si=DqPUE3jaSyefSQVK_PRDzQ

Barnes and Noble Monthly Pick - Guest Post by Samantha Sotto Yambao

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/samantha-sotto-yambao-guest-post/

Andrea and Elizabeth delve into the world of novellas, discussing the defining characteristics of a novella and the blurry line where it becomes a novel. They share their favorite short reads of the past month, including Automatic Noodle, The Outsiders, and Amsterdam. The episode also highlights Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, exploring its cultural impact, the accuracy of its numerous adaptations, and its enduring significance as a holiday classic.

00:00 Introduction to Novellas

00:46 Defining a Novella

04:39 Novella Stats

06:24 Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz

10:45 The Outsiders by SE Hinton

13:06 Amsterdam by Ian McEwan

15:02 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

24:27 The Fantasy Elements in A Christmas Carol

28:18 Recommending a Classic

30:25 Wrapping Up

Books mentioned in this episode:

I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel

The Outsiders by SE Hinton

Amsterdam by Ian McEwan

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao - Our December Book Pick

SFWA Nebula Award Criteria

https://nebulas.sfwa.org/about-the-nebulas/nebula-rules/

Hugo Award Criteria

https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-categories/

A Christmas Carol Audiobook - Narrated by Patrick Stewart

https://open.spotify.com/show/5q6TxUY7gYLCEbCNAh24Yt?si=192f9fdc5fca485f

A Christmas Carol at Grand Stree Theatre, Helena, MT

https://grandstreettheatre.com/event/a-christmas-carol/

Michael Caine Loves The Muppet Christmas Carol as Much as You Do

By Lauren Larson, December 15, 2016

https://www.gq.com/story/michael-caine-muppet-christmas-carol-interview

Support the Show

Explore our Bookshop.org storefront to find the books we discuss. Purchases support independent bookstores and help keep the podcast going.

https://bookshop.org/shop/galaxiesandgoddesses

Andrea and Elizabeth dive into Becky Chambers’ solarpunk novella Psalm for the Wild-Built and explore its themes of hope, utopia, and relatable self-discovery. They discuss Sibling Dex’s journey, the meaning of sentience, and how solarpunk reimagines sustainable futures in science fiction.

Episode Chapters

00:00 A Psalm for the Wild-Built

00:55 Understanding Solarpunk

01:57 Initial Impressions

05:32 Character Analysis: Sibling Dex

07:38 Language and Gender in Literature

09:50 Relatability

11:07 Asking Big Questions

13:37 Personal Utopia

14:50 Sentience and Robots

20:23 Recommended by a Bookseller

23:15 Adapting the Book for Screen

25:36 Rating and Final Thoughts

27:50 Supporting the Podcast

Support the Show

Explore our Bookshop.org storefront to find the books we discuss. Purchases support independent bookstores and help keep the podcast going.

https://bookshop.org/shop/galaxiesandgoddesses

References Mentioned:

Genre of Solarpunk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solarpunk

Areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs): Designation and management

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/areas-of-outstanding-natural-beauty-aonbs-designation-and-management

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach

https://www.maryroach.net/fuzz.html

New Zealand National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee: Animal sentience

https://www.nawac.org.nz/animal-sentience

Late Night with Seth Meyers: The Best of The Kind of Story We Need Right Now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UABJH6zLHBE

Hugo Award lists for 2022: Psalm for the Wild-Built Won Best Novella

https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2022-hugo-awards/

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into the age-old debate of borrowing versus buying books. They discuss their personal experiences, motivations, and the joy of owning or sharing books. Highlights include anecdotes about book fairs, the allure of special editions, independent bookstores, and the ethical considerations of supporting authors and local businesses. The episode also touches on the thrills of discovering new reads through unexpected avenues such as estate sales and Little Free Libraries. They emphasize the underlying love for stories, regardless of how the books are acquired.

00:00 Borrowing V Buying

04:20 Different Feel to Buying Versus Borrowing

06:04 Dandelion Chocolate

06:53 Special Edition Books

09:26 Borrowing from Little Free Libraries

14:54 Unconventional Ways of Buying Books

16:48 Adventure and Discovery of In Person Book Browsing

20:09 The Debate on Supporting Used Bookstores

24:27 Atypical Library Books

27:48 No Patience for the Hold List

29:26 Concluding Thoughts on Book Buying and Borrowing

Books mentioned in this episode:

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach

Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (November book pick)

A Sweet Shoutout to Dandelion Chocolate

Dandelion Chocolate’s 2025 Advent Calendar is a delicious way to honor 25 of our Solar System’s moons this holiday season. This is an affiliate link, not a discount, and another way to support the show while giving something special to yourself or others.

dandelionchocolate.pxf.io/7azQny

Friends Of The Historical Museum At Fort Missoula’s Annual Used Book Sale

https://fortmissoulamuseum.org/event/annual-used-book-sale/

The Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana

https://ninepipesmuseum.org/

Arts Midwest: National Endowment for the Arts Big Read

https://artsmidwest.org/about/updates/announcing-the-2025-26-nea-big-read-grantees/

FY2025-26 NEA BIG READ TITLES

https://artsmidwest.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/NEA-Big-Read-25-26-Titles.pdf

Galaxies and Goddesses now has a Bookshop.org affiliate storefront!

It’s a curated page where we share the books we talk about on the podcast. When you buy through our storefront, Bookshop.org donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores nationwide and we earn a small affiliate commission. It’s a great way to support indie bookstores and our show at the same time.

https://bookshop.org/shop/galaxiesandgoddesses

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker, a sweeping romantasy filled with dragons, magic, and mystery. They unpack the novel’s intricate world building, discuss what defines epic fantasy versus romantasy, and share their first impressions, including how this hefty book compares to War and Peace in sheer size.

From the protagonist’s haunted frozen lake coping mechanism to paper birds that come to life and shimmering aurora cycles, the hosts explore what makes this story and its world so unforgettable. They also draw comparisons to other epic and romantasy favorites such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, Fourth Wing, Throne of Glass, The Name of the Wind, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Spoiler warning! There are a few MAJOR mid-episode spoilers.

00:00 When the Moon Hatched

01:14 First Impressions and Book Size

04:41 Romantasy vs. Epic Fantasy

08:06 World Building and Unique Concepts

16:09 Characters & Tropes

19:29 Spoiler Alert!

23:21 Explicit Content

24:35 When the Moon _______

26:29 Final Thoughts and Ratings

Other links and resources:

PBS segment on Romantasy

https://www.pbs.org/video/romantasy-1706739868/

Romantasy: An Old Genre with a New Name, blog article, February 25, 2025 by Rosemary Jones, Science Fiction Writer’s Association

https://www.sfwa.org/2025/02/25/romantasy-an-old-genre-with-a-new-name

Between Pages & Friends Podcast: Interview with Sarah A Parker

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sarah-a-parker-interview-when-the-moon-hatched/id1747110661?i=1000731947711

Sarah A Parker Instagram Post: Ballad of Falling Dragons to the Copy Editor
https://www.instagram.com/p/DP40si9E_Vf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Tak: The boardgame from the world of Patrick Rothfuss

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/197405/tak

You can support this podcast and independent bookstores through purchasing the book When the Moon Hatched on Bookshop.org with the affiliate link below:

https://bookshop.org/a/117783/9780063415805

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth lean into spooky season. They discuss their favorite books featuring witches, vampires, and other supernatural elements. Andrea shares her thoughts on The Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli, a YA book focused on witches, while Elizabeth reflects on reading Carrie, Stephen King's debut novel. They also touch on the history of Halloween and temporary tattoos as a fun addition to Halloween costumes!

Be sure to listen for the Sparrow and Wilde limited time promo code in the middle of the episode for a fun discount on bookish merch and temporary tattoos.

00:00 Spooky Season

00:53 Kicking off Spooky Season

02:02 Witchy Reads

04:28 Stephen King's Carrie

14:13 Fated Mates

15:24 Exploring Vampire Literature

18:25 Halloween Costumes and Temporary Tattoos

22:12 The Origins of Halloween

25:20 Haunted Houses

27:26 Seasonal Reading Habits

30:43 Concluding Remarks

Sparrow & Wilde: Romantasy Apparel, Accessories, and Temporary Tattoos

https://sparrowandwilde.com/

Stephen King is the most banned author in U.S. schools

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/stephen-king-banned-books-rcna235326

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth delve into Ursula K. Le Guin's sci-fi classic The Dispossessed. They discuss major themes such as privacy, identity, societal structure, and capitalism vs. socialism, exploring how these themes remain relevant today. They examine how Le Guin's world-building brings new perspectives on familiar societal norms and reflects on how the book made them reconsider aspects of their own lives.

00:00 The Dispossessed

07:14 Deep Themes

09:36 Meaning of the Title

17:52 Does Money Buy Politeness?

23:21 Words that Stood Out

25:40 Relevant Today?

33:18 Similar Books?

38:17 Elizabeth's Favorite Publication Pages

41:22 Ratings

44:45 Conclusion

The Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction

https://www.ursulakleguin.com/prize-overview

Freakonomics - Why Does Tipping Still Exist? (Update)

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-does-tipping-still-exist-update/

Smithsonian - History Behind Shaving in the United States

https://www.si.edu/spotlight/health-hygiene-and-beauty/hair-removal

What is Arcosanti?

https://www.arcosanti.org/history/