In this absolutely special live episode, we’re joined by science fiction and fantasy author Marina Lostetter and horror and supernatural author John Hornor Jacobs.

Together, we explore how genre becomes a storytelling lens and how science fiction and horror use different tools to examine fear, identity, and what it means to be human.

Authors

John Hornor Jacobs

Marina Lostetter

Books Mentioned

The Revenant of Surolifia by Florence Chien

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

Hyperion by Dan Simmons

Contact by Carl Sagan

A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt

The Big Blow by Joe R Lansdale

These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs

The Game is Murder by Hazell Ward

Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinneman

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at idreadthat.podcast@gmail.com
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Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

Did you think we were done after our Top 10?
Not so fast, my friend.

Some books demand special recognition, and that calls for an awards show.

This episode is dedicated to our most delightfully specific favorites of the year. From dream adaptations to the questionably horny, these are the books that stood out for all the right (and very specific) reasons.

Join us as we roll out the red carpet one last time for 2025 with the incredibly prestigious Riley Awards.

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at idreadthat.podcast@gmail.com
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

It's time to wrap up 2025 with our Top 10 of 2025!

We've been saying for quite some time that this has been one of our best reading years ever, and our lists reflect that. We laugh, cry, agonize over our list, so why don't you join us in the same!!

Best Non-Book Things

Physical: Asia

Andor Season 2

Annie Bot Playlist

Honorable Mentions

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Fifth Season by NK Jemison

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

The List

Jerry's Top 10

Liz's Top 10

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at idreadthat.podcast@gmail.com
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

In this episode, we take a look at the “Read Your Color” framework and what it says about our reading habits. We dig into how different color profiles shape the kinds of stories people connect with, why certain books grab us right away, and how knowing your color can make choosing your next read a lot easier.

Non Book Thing

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

Steve

Books Mentioned

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

Shy by Max Porter

Read Your Color Quiz!

The Fifth Season by NK Jemsin

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at idreadthat.podcast@gmail.com
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that one brilliant opening sentence can ruin your sleep schedule.
Join us in this episode as we gush about why first lines are so potent, how they cast their spell within seconds, and which recent ones are our current favorites!

Non-Book Things

Turkey Pastry

Asia Phsical 100

Book Things

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T Kingfisher

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley

Books with great opening lines:

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Martian by Andy Weir

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

Vicious & The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab

Lone Women by Victor LaValle

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at idreadthat.podcast@gmail.com
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

It's our latest book club discussion, Slewffot: A Tale of Bewitchery. This spoiler-filled discussion lets us dive into the rich world that's part of our history.

Connecticut, 1666: An ancient spirit awakens in a dark wood. The wildfolk call him Father, slayer, protector. The colonists call him Slewfoot, demon, devil. To Abitha, a recently widowed outcast, alone and vulnerable in her pious village, he is the only one she can turn to for help.

Together, they ignite a battle between pagan and Puritan – one that threatens to destroy the entire village, leaving nothing but ashes and bloodshed in their wake.

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at idreadthat.podcast@gmail.com
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

In this episode, we discuss books that don't fit into one genre box neatly. We delved into novels that add a twist to familiar stories; horror that becomes healing, sci-fi that becomes terrifying, and fantasy with real-world emotional stakes.

Non-Book Things

Below Deck Mediterranean

Peacemaker Season 2

Books Mentioned

Play Nice by Rachel Harrison

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

Genre Bending Books

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

Dead Silence by SA Barnes

Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

Strange Love by Ann Aguirre

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at idreadthat.podcast@gmail.com
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

It's time to reveal how Jerry handled his Spicy Romance Challenge. There were laughs, tears, pearl clutching; it's all here and more!

Non-Book Things

Alice in Borderland

More Lawn Work!

Book Things

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

Absolutely No Thoughts of Pounding During My Fun Day with This Kind T-Rex Because I'm Aromantic and Asexual and That's a Wonderfully Valid Way of Proving Love Is Real by Chuck Tingle

Liz's Spicy Romance Challenge

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at idreadthat.podcast@gmail.com
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.