Book Talk, etc.

Latest Episodes:

April Books on the Radar (2025) Mar 25, 2025

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In Episode 194 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah bring their April Books on the Radar.

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If you prefer other shopping options, you can find today’s books on Bookshop.org or Blackwell's. Purchasing through these links supports us with a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Loving Lately

Bend App (T)

Sun Bum Sunscreen Stick (H)

Solar Buddies - Sunscreen Roller

Latest Read

I Leave Up to You | Jinwoo Chong (T)

@PaperFury

Don’t Let the Forest In | C.G. Drews (H)

April BOTR

Honorable Mentions

Say You’ll Remember Me | Abby Jimenez

Great Big Beautiful Life | Emily Henry

When the Wolf Comes Home | Nat Cassidy

Staircase in the Woods | Chuck Wendig

The Last Session | Julia Bartz (T)

April BOTR

The Sirens | Emilia Hart (H)

Happy Land | Dolen Perkins-Valdez (T)

The Bright Years | Sarah Damoff (H)

Bat Eater: and Other Names for Cora Zeng | (T)

The Float Test | Lynn Steger Strong (H)

Julie Chan is Dead | Liann Zhang (T)

Polybius | Collin Armstrong (H)

The Road to Tender Hearts | Annie Hartnett (T)

Bad Nature | Ariel Courage (H)

Current Reads

The Quiet Librarian | Allen Eskens (T)

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy (H)

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Let's Connect...
Email us at booktalketc@gmail
BTE on Youtube
Tina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretc
Hannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooks
Jonathan IG @infiltrate_jay
Podcast IG @booktalketc
Renee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk

BookTalk Does BookTok! Mar 18, 2025

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In Episode 193 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah chat all things BookTok. We discuss some of our top creators on the app and bring books we've discovered through one of our favorite book recommendation sources.

If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!

If you prefer to support independent bookstores, you can find today’s books on Bookshop.org.

Loving Lately

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke

Latest Read

Magnolia Parks | Jessa Hastings (T)

The Dream Hotel | Laila Lalami (T)

BookTalk

@ghostlyreads

@Coffeeandcuentos

@Madisoncanread

BookTokBooks

My Husband | Maud Ventura (T)

Human Sacrifices | María Fernanda Ampuero with Frances Riddle (Translator) (H)

This Thing Between Us | Gus Moreno (T)

An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir (H)

@Baker_Reads

Shelf Addition

It’s Not the End of the World | Jonathan Parks-Ramage (T)

Finding Grace | Loretta Rothschild (H)

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Easily Distracted by New Releases and Defending Our Book Collections Mar 11, 2025

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In Episode 191 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah are diving into the world of book collections, physical TBRs, and the joy (or chaos) of owning too many books. We also push back against shaming others' book collections and celebrate the freedom to curate our shelves in a way that blows our hair back!

If you prefer to support independent bookstores, you can find today’s books on Bookshop.org.

Loving Lately

Jocswatchlist (T)

Brocc Your Body (H)

Latest Read

Back After This | Linda Holmes (T)

The Empusium | Olga Tokarczuk, Antonia Lloyd-Jones (H)

Book Talk

Blackwells

Bookshop.org

PangoBooks

The Safekeep | Yael van der Wouden

New Releases

Tilt | Emma Pattee (T)

We Rip the World Apart | Charlene Carr (H)

Broken Country | Clare Leslie Hall (T)

Promise Me Sunshine | Cara Bastone (H)

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Once Upon A First Sentence Mar 04, 2025

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Can a single sentence make or break a book? In Episode 191 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah put first lines to the test—reading books based solely on their opening sentences and discussing what makes an introduction instantly gripping. Join us as we explore the power of a strong start and see which books reel us in from page one.

Book Talk, Etc on Youtube

Loving Lately

Kale Caesar Salad from Love and Lemons (T)

Artsy Legacy on Etsy (H)

Community Read

Good Dirt | Charmaine Wilkerson (T+H)

Judging Books by Their Opening Lines

Mostly Dead Things | Kristen Arnett (T)

Perfume and Pain | Anna Dorn (H)

The Lamb | Lucy Rose (T)

The Haunting of Hill House | Shirley Jackson (H)

Shelf Addition:

The Frequency of Living Things | Nick Fuller Googins (T)

Run for the Hills | Kevin Wilson (H)

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March Books on the Radar (2025) Feb 25, 2025

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In Episode 190 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah share the books catching their attention in March. Hannah was battling the lingering effects of the flu, so her voice isn’t at full strength—but she powered through!

Loving Lately

Govee Lights

Smith & Taylor Classics 2025 Subscription

Latest Read

Red Clay | Charles B. Fancher (T)

The Blueprint | Rae Giana Rashad (H)

March Books On the Radar

Broken Country | Clare Leslie Hall (T)

The River Has Roots | Amal El-Mohtar (H)

I Leave It Up To You | Jinwoo Chong (T)

The Antidote | Karen Russell (T)

The Story She Left Behind | Patti Callahan Henry (H)

Claire, Darling | Callie Kazumi (T)

All the Other Mothers Hate Me | Sarah Harman (H)

Tilt | Emma Pattee (T)

Friends Helping Friends | Patrick Hoffman (H)

Dissolution | Nicholas Binge (T)

Current Reads:

Mostly Dead Things | Kristin Arnett (T)

Good Dirt | Charmaine Wilkerson (H)

Support the show

Literary FOMO and Reading Books We Missed Last Year Feb 18, 2025

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In Episode 189 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah explore the ups and downs of literary FOMO—what genres and books make us feel the most pressure to read, how we navigate the ever-evolving bookish community, and the books we finally picked up after missing them last year.

Loving Lately

Buy Now Documentary

Severance on Apple TV+

Latest Read

Death of the Author | Nnedi Okorafor (T)

Three Lives of Cate Kay | Kate Fagan

All Systems Red | Martha Wells (H)

Book Talk

Brett’s BookStack - YouTube

Station Eleven | Emily St. John Mandel

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller

2024 Releases

Martyr! | Kaveh Akbar (T)

Piglet | Lottie Hazell (H)

Middle of the Night | Riley Sager (T)

The Only One Left | Riley Sager

Sandwich | Catherine Newman (H)

Behind the Stacks - 2024 Runner Ups with Tina from TBR, etc.

Shelf Addition:

What Kind of Paradise | Janelle Brown (T)

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil | V. E. Schwab (H)

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Easily Distracted by New Releases and What it Means to Be Well-Read Feb 11, 2025

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In Episode 188 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah are easily distracted by new releases. We dive into some of the latest book releases, sharing thoughts on what’s worth adding to your TBR..and what might be worth skipping! We also explore the idea of being a “well-read” reader. We discuss what it means, how it’s defined, and whether it’s about quantity, diversity, or simply reading with intention.

Loving Lately

Jen Ryland Reviews (T)

Thayers Facial Toner (H)

Latest Read

Lone Women | Victor LaValle (T)

Blood Over Bright Haven | M.L. Wang (H)

New Releases:

The Crash | Freida McFadden (T)

Only In Your Dreams | Ellie K. Wilde (H)

The Inheritance | Trisha Sakhlecha (T)

We Could Be Rats | Emily Austin (H)

Shelf Additions:

Parents Weekend | Alex Finlay (T)

Heart of Winter | Jonathan Evison (H)

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What Makes a Great Audiobook and Choosing Books by Our Favorite Narrators Feb 04, 2025

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In Episode 187 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah are diving into the art of audiobooks, storytelling, and what makes an ideal narrator for our listening tastes. We discuss what makes an audiobook truly stand out to us - whether it's a dynamic narration, full-cast performances, or the perfect voice for the story. We also share some of our favorite narrators and how their performances influence our reading choices. If you love audiobooks or want to get more into them, this one's for you!

Loving Lately

Kiwi Knives (T)

Blockaroo Magnetic Foam Blocks (H)

Latest Read

Homseeking | Karissa Chen (T+H Community Read Discussion)

Book Talk:

The Sentence

Finding Me

The Woman in Me

Moon of the Crusted Snow

The Nix

The Women

Books with Narrators We Love:

I’m Starting to Worry About this Black Box of Doom | Jason Pargin (T)

Nothing to See Here | Kevin Wilson (H)

The Stepford Wives | Ira Levin (T)

Rosemary’s Baby | Ira Levin

The Jane Austen Society | Natalie Jenner (H)

Shelf Addition:

The Girls We Sent Away | Meagan Church (T)

Endlings | Maria Reva (H)

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February Books on the Radar (2025) Jan 28, 2025

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In Episode 186 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah bring their February books on the radar!

Loving Lately
Donatestuff.com (T)
Beatrice Likes the Dark | April Genevieve Tucholke, Khoa Le (H)

Latest Read
Penitence | Kristin Koval (T)
The Laws of the Skies | Courtois Grégoire (H)

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Easily Distracted by New Releases (January 2025) + Our Favorite Bookish Resources Jan 21, 2025

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In Episode 185 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah are easily distracted by new releases! We discuss some new releases that we have read, and we share our favorite reading resources for discovering great book recommendations! From trusted websites, book subscriptions and bookish blogs. Whether you're a mood reader, a planner, or just trying to tame and tackle your TBR, this episode is for you!
If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!
Loving Lately:
Eto Wine Decanter
Archer and Olive Undated Planner
Latest Reads and Books Mentioned:
The Note | Alafair Burke (T)
We Used to Live Here | Marcus Kliewer (H)

Book Talk:
Crime Reads
Literary Hub
Lit Hub’s Anticipated 2025 Releases
Book Riot
Electric Lit
Booklist Queen

New Releases:
Three Lives of Cate Kay | Kate Fagan (T)
The Secret History of the Rape Kit | Pagan Kennedy (H)
Cross My Heart | Megan Collins (T)
Sea of Unspoken Things | Adrienne Young (H)

Shelf Additions:
Disappoint Me | Nicola Dinan (T)
Hurricane Girl | Marcy Dermansky
We Lived on the Horizon | Erika Swyler (H)

Support the show

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