2026 is the year of the trad wife book, and we read three of them. This week we talk about what a trad wife actually is and how three different authors take on influencer culture, performative perfection, and the husbands who never notice what’s happening in their own homes. There’s social satire, body horror, and creepy farm vibes, and we disagree about which one is best.
Plus: A hint at our next book club pick.

Books Mentioned
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer
Trad Wife by Sarah Langan

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
Top Secret by Sarina Bower & Elle Kennedy

Book Club Pick!
Clear by Carys Davies

Non Book Things:
Shark Mop
The Last House

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Welcome to a special on location episode as we visit the 2026 NWA Book Fest in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In just their fourth year, the event has grown significantly and is great event for the community. We walk the floor speaking to Board President Amelia and Media Relations and Board Member Dominique.
They discuss the early days of the event and what it means to them and the community. Enjoy!

NWA Book Fest

Authors/Vendors
Underbrush Books
The Cozy Librarian
Ouija & Haints by Jane Elyse
Smash & Grab by Maz Maddox
Pralines & Poison by Ashley Donati
BDW Handmade Notebooks
Chaski Review

Current Host Favorites:
Off Campus by Elle Kennedy
My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby

Physical 100 Mexico
Buddy

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

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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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¡Hola Amigos!

In this episode we celebrate authors across the Latin American diaspora. From moving memoirs and sharp poetry to vibrant historical romances, this lineup spans roots from Mexico, El Salvador, and the Caribbean. Join us as we dive into these essential stories, unpack their themes, and share our favorite takeaways!

Featured Books:
Solito by Javier Zamora
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
Ana María and The Fox by Liana De la Rosa
Promises of Gold by José Olivarez
A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

Other Books Mentioned:
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
Mississippi Blue 42 by Eli Cranor

Non Book Things
Phoebe Bridgers
Dallas Cowboys, it's our year!!

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

As a Bookshop.org affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through the links, which directly supports local, independent bookstores!

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.

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 1! Whether you’re running errands, tackling chores, or juggling a packed schedule, reading doesn't have to take a back seat. This week, we share our favorite tips, formats, and hacks for staying hooked on books when life gets ridiculously busy.

Plus, we kick things off with a well-deserved moment of appreciation for the absolute legend and American treasure, Dolly Parton.

Books For Busy People:
Heartstopper Vol 1-6 by Alice Oseman
How to Be Okay When Nothing is Okay by Jenny Lawson

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Stiff by Mary Roach
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
Grumpy Darling by Alexandra Moody
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Other Book Things:
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst

Non-Book Things:
Origami
7 Brew

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

As a Bookshop.org affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through the links, which directly supports local, independent bookstores!

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.

What do you call fiction where women are feral, unraveling, or just delightfully off? We're calling it Weird Girl Fiction! In this episode, local independent bookseller Julia joins us to build the ultimate TBR of bizarre, unhinged, atmospheric novels.

Weird Girl Books Mentioned:
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
Headlights by CJ Leede
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
Blob by Maggie Su
Sky Daddy by Kate Folk
Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny
Hooked by Asako Yuzuki
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
Exit Zero: Stories by Marie-Helene Bertino
Nevada by Imogen Binnie

Other Books Mentioned:
Seek Immediate Shelter by Vincent Yu
Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck|
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
Bone Horn by Prudence Bussey-Chamberlain
Chouette by Claire Oshetsky

Non Book Things
Below Deck Mediterranean: Season 11
Summer Softball
House of the Dragon: Season 3

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

As a Bookshop.org affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through the links, which directly supports local, independent bookstores!

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.

Yadriel just wants his family's magic to recognize him as the brujo he is — instead, he summons the wrong ghost. This week: the world-building of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas — traditions, family, and magic tied to gender (brujos summon, brujas heal) — plus the relationship at its heart: Yadriel and Julian.

Yadriel solo quiere que la magia de su familia lo reconozca como el brujo que es — en cambio, invoca al fantasma equivocado. Esta semana: la construcción del mundo de Cemetery Boys, de Aiden Thomas — tradiciones, familia, y magia ligada al género (los brujos invocan, las brujas sanan) — y la relación que lo conquista todo: Yadriel y Julian.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

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

As a Bookshop.org affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through the links, which directly supports local, independent bookstores!

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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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.

What makes a villain truly unforgettable? In this episode, we explore the psychology of storytelling by mapping out the most compelling villain archetypes and character tropes in literature using the Enneagram personality framework. We break down the core fears and motivations of the nine different Enneagram types, matching them up against our favorite fictional antagonists, literary antiheroes, and specific character archetypes.

Enneagram 1: Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)
Enneagram 2: Doug (Annie Bot)
Enneagram 3: Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)
Enneagram 4: Joe Goldberg (You) E
Enneagram 5: Victor Frankenstein (Frankenstein)
Enneagram 6: Peter Darling (The Hounding)
Enneagram 7: George Wickham (Pride & Prejudice)
Enneagram 8: Cersei Lannister (A Song of Ice and Fire)
Enneagram 9: Marcos (Tender is the Flesh)

Other Mentions
Headlights by CJ Leede
Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

Non-Book Things:
Ninja NeverClog Juicer
World Cup '26

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

As a Bookshop.org affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through the links, which directly supports local, independent bookstores!

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.

We are broadcasting live from the NWA Book Fest Kids event in Springdale, Arkansas! In this quick bonus episode, we interview a lineup of brilliant local children's authors about their new books, their writing journeys, and what inspires them to create engaging stories for young readers. If you want to support independent creators and discover amazing new kid-lit from the Northwest Arkansas literary community, this episode is for you.

Featured Books & Authors:

Junko's Climb by Elyssa Gavin

Xavier's Voice by Ashley Franklin

Presha's Mountain by R. A. Thapa

I See Colors by Zuri Louis

Benny In The Garden by Matt & Melissa Cooper

Send us Fan Mail

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

As a Bookshop.org affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through the links, which directly supports local, independent bookstores!

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.