Plans Are Booked

Chapter 49: Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell Oct 24, 2024

This week we're talking about a second chance love story that surprised us. Rainbow Rowell has written two honest and vulnerable leads, Shiloh and Cary, who move through friendship, distance, and romance over two decades. We talk about the resonance of flawed characters, the levity delivered via a spunky little kid, and make comparisons to movies with similar vibes. In our catch up, Steph recaps her five days of dog sitting and gives us an update on house flipping. Kaitlin details her evening with author Jason Reynolds at the Brookline Booksmith and shares her excitement after making a visit to her new house. Molly tells the girls about her trip to Miami and the surprising things that came back in her suitcase. This episode we also share our listener picks for favorite books of 2024. If you'd like to see that list, give us a follow on Instagram, @plansarebooked. You can always write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 48: Modern Romance with Casey McQuiston Oct 17, 2024

This week we shine a light on an author we all adore, Casey McQuiston (they / them). Steph shares how she was first introduced to Casey's writing and how quickly all of us became super fans. Kaitlin and Molly recap seeing Casey in person with the Brookline Booksmith and how that deepened our fandom. We cover Casey's gift for writing banter-fueled love stories, vivid descriptions of food and travel, and LGBTQIA+ representation. We talk about our favorite moments from Red, White & Royal Blue, I Kissed Shara Wheeler and The Pairing, including reading passages that moved us and a great idea Kaitlin hatched for a YA prequel to Casey's latest story. In our catch up this week, Molly makes an instant BFF at the hair salon, Kaitlin celebrates a best friend's 40th, and Steph tells us about a new book she's working on. We close by reading a fun listener email and asking for your personal book recommendations. Please share your favorite reads of 2024 with us at plansarebooked@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram, @plansarebooked.

Chapter 47: All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker Oct 10, 2024

This week we marvel at author Chris Whitaker's talent and share our thoughts on the story of Patch and Saint. We chat about the importance of well rounded side characters, our love for short chapters with poignant closing sentences, parallels to Forrest Gump, and the text Kaitlin found so powerful she's considering for her next tattoo. We also continue our fascination with how books are chosen for celebrity book clubs, noting Whitaker's shoutout to Jenna Bush Hager in the acknowledgements. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin gives an awesome update on her home buying journey, Steph shares about a recent equine therapy client, and Molly details every delicious thing she ate during her girls trip to Vermont. We also dish on the new seasons of Love is Blind and Heartstopper on Netflix, including a spirited debate about whether reality or scripted TV reigns supreme. To follow along with everything we're reading, join us on Instagram, @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 46: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore Oct 03, 2024

This week we have something extra special for you. We're debuting a line of Plans are Booked romance trope candles! We light a candle each time we record and we want to share that ritual with you. We can't wait for you to smell them, enjoy them in your home, or gift them to your reader bestie. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin recaps a wonderful wedding she went to in Connecticut, Molly details two delicious restaurant meals, and Steph shares an honest update about the querying process and how she's feeling about pursuing this book. We also rave about the new Netflix show Nobody Wants This, starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell. Then we discuss Liz Moore's newest book. We talk about the juggle of a moving timeline and multiple character perspectives. We admit that we're always reeled in by the haves and have nots. We confess our favorite character, how we felt about the ending, and what we think could make a successful screen adaptation. In what we're reading this week, Kaitlin has both a fiction and non-fiction pick, Steph tries her first Emily Henry book, and Molly returns to Lynn Painter land. To follow along with all of our recs, join us on Instagram, @plansarebooked. You can also write to us or place an order for a candle at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 45: Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe Sep 26, 2024

It's Molly's birthday week and the Libra season energy is in full effect. We kick off with Molly sharing two book-themed gifts she's unwrapped, including one that Steph and Molly's mom conspired together to procure and secretly have delivered. Steph catches us up on the very special pup she took care of over the weekend. We close out the catch up by sharing two brand new TV shows we're loving. Next, we discuss Margo's Got Money Troubles, a book so unique and specific we had a tough time comparing it to other reads. We fell down the OnlyFans rabbit hole (not something we ever thought we'd do) and discussed how there were so many moments where the story felt like a memoir instead of a work of fiction. We also share our giddiness around it being greenlit for an 8-episode screen adaptation. In what we're reading this week, Molly admits she may have unlocked a new spice level with her latest romance pick. To follow along with all of our book recs, join us on Instagram, @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 44: Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon Sep 19, 2024

This week we mentally transport ourselves to northern California to join Lana, Beth and Jack, the three generations of women who star in Mother-Daughter Murder Night. This debut novel from former NASA engineer Nina Simon features unlikely detectives, hilarious family dynamics, and a picturesque setting that some people will do anything to protect. We talk about the Emily and Lorelai Gilmore-like relationship between Lana and Beth, and who we'd love to see cast in a screen adaptation of this story. This is a Reese's Book Club pick and we begin to fantasize about a TV series that would show the behind-the-scenes process of being chosen for Reese, Oprah or Jenna's book clubs. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin heads to the movie theater, Steph regales us with a nightmare flying experience, and Molly admits she's been binging an insane amount of television. We close by sharing what we're currently reading, which includes books from Chris Whitaker, Casey McQuiston, and Holly Jackson. Join us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, to follow along with all our picks and send us your thoughts on this week's episode to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 43: The Husbands by Holly Gramazio Sep 12, 2024

This week we're embracing the transition to fall and donning our favorite sweatshirt + shorts combos (shout out to the OG, Princess Diana). Kaitlin shares her excitement for the return of football and the joy she's feeling from all the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce sightings. She also fills us in on the wedding she went to on the South Shore and an epic meal she had at Bianca in Newton. Steph reminisces about a blissful Labor Day weekend at the beach with Nemo and Scout, updates us on her query process for her latest book, and details a delectable breakfast at Verveine Cafe in Cambridge including the mother of all cinnamon buns. Molly unleashes the Libra energy, sharing how amped she is for birthday month. We close out our catch up by confessing our current TBR tallies, then we deep dive on Holly Gramazio's debut novel, The Husbands. We chat about her career as a video game designer, what we loved about the magical premise, and Kaitlin makes a superb suggestion about how the story should be told next. To follow along with all of our hot takes and book recs, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 42: Wild Love by Elsie Silver Sep 05, 2024

Fueled by milkshakes, this week is an all out gigglefest. Steph shares her day at the barn, including getting to know some adorable, tiny kittens. Kaitlin recaps her weekend on Cape Cod, including an awesome round of golf with her mom. Molly details her annual getaway to Maine, including a growing menagerie of inflatables. Then we deep dive on a book we read in Wyoming, Wild Love by Elsie Silver. Kaitlin and Molly gush about the male lead, Ford Grant, and Steph makes a surprising confession. We talk about the allure of small town settings, the power of fated mates, and our obsession with great banter. In what we're reading this week, we each try to guess how many books are in our respective TBR piles, and then share three books across completely different genres. To follow along with all of our book recs, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. If you have an idea for a future episode, write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 41: Wyoming Trip Recap + Rebel Blue Ranch Series by Lyla Sage Aug 29, 2024

This week we are headed west to Wyoming! We kick off our conversation by sharing a detailed recap of our trip to Jackson Hole, including making friendship bracelets at the airport, our love affair with our rental house's living room, declaring Jenny Lake the prettiest place we've ever seen in real life, buffalo sightings in Yellowstone, customizing cowboy hats, Kaitlin and Steph getting tattoos, and the restaurants you absolutely have to hit if you're planning a future visit. Then, we discuss author Lyla Sage's Rebel Blue Ranch series, which is set in Wyoming. We share our thoughts on the first two books, Done & Dusted and Swift & Saddled, and how excited we are for the next two stories in the series. In what we're reading this week, Steph picks up a Colleen Hoover book from 2013, Kaitlin tries another Erin Hahn story, and Molly finds herself holding a work of fiction that actually reads more like a 300-page poem. If you'd like to follow along with all of our recommendations, join us on Instagram, @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 40: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Aug 15, 2024

This week is a big one: we're toasting to 40 episodes! We open by reflecting on our journey so far and sharing the things that have surprised us most about the experience. In our catch up, Steph recaps her trip to Portland for Kate Spencer's author event, Kaitlin updates us on her house hunt, and Molly recounts her weekend road trip. Next, we debrief on the TV adaptation of Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (Netflix), which we all enjoyed despite its major location change. Then we deep dive on Ninth House. As Kaitlin says, "this one's for the dark academia baddies." We talk about the allure of secret societies and whether or not we like a dash of the paranormal in our stories. We close out by reading an email from a loyal listener. If you'd like to write to us, shoot a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Instagram, @plansarebooked.

Chapter 39: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Aug 08, 2024

This week we're discussing a story that has dominated the book club circuit. We deep dive on Yellowface, a tale of deceit and deplorable behavior. We share our individual levels of cringe and why we think this should never be adapted for the screen. In our catch up, Molly recaps her trip to New Hampshire, Kaitlin fills us in on the Newport Folk Festival, and Steph educates us on the units of measure for the height and head size of horses. We have a passionate conversation about the highlights of the summer Olympics (Do you know the muffin man?) and share what we're reading this week. If you'd like to follow along with all of our book picks, connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 38: Home Is Where The Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose Aug 01, 2024

Murderinos, this one's for you. This week we're deep diving on Home Is Where The Bodies Are. Steph admits she was Instagram influenced to purchase this book (in hard cover!). After she raced through it, she was positive all of us would love it. It's a mix of family drama, solving the case, and 1980s nostalgia. In our catch up this week, Steph dog sits for her favorite neighborhood pup, Kaitlin prepares for the Noah Kahan concert at Fenway Park, and Molly welcomes her parents to the beach house for the summer. We also discuss a recent podcast interview with Emily Henry where she explains her point of view on what an author's role should be in page to screen adaptations. We're all across the board in what we're reading this week, including Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, which we'll be covering in a future episode. If you'd like to follow along with what we're reading, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. If you have an idea for a book or topic, write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. This week we read a lovely listener email on air, and we'd love to share more of your feedback.

Chapter 37: Even If It Breaks Your Heart by Erin Hahn Jul 25, 2024

It's Stephanie's birthday! With bubble tea in hand, we're toasting and catching up on a very big week. Steph recounts her recent rescue ride with a foster dog, Kaitlin fills us in on her Cape Cod and New York City trips, and Molly shares a major life update. Then we deep dive on a book we all loved, Even If It Breaks Your Heart. We talk about how Erin Hahn rivals Lynn Painter in the banter game, and how excited we are to read more of her books. In "what we're reading this week," Steph describes a book that totally captivated her, Kailtin gives a preview of the book we're covering next week, and Molly takes her first trip to the "dark academia" genre. To follow along with everything we're reading and loving, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. If you have an idea for a future episode, write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 36: Page to Screen Favorites Jul 18, 2024

This week we have a special treat for you. We are recording at Molly's beach house (a first!) and talking about a subject all three of us are very passionate about - the best book to movie / TV adaptations. Our list is vast and covers many genres - coming of age, family drama, sports towns, dystopian tales, mystery, romance and more. In our catch up, Steph shares about celebrating birthdays at the horse barn, Kaitlin declares her summer sea glass quest, and Molly describes a book she recently finished as the "Magic 106.7 of summer reads." To follow along with everything we're loving, join us on Instagram, @plansarebooked. If you have an idea for a future episode topic, please write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 35: The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston Jul 11, 2024

This week we have a lively catch up, including Steph updating us on the plumbing saga, Kaitlin surviving a golf tournament during a scorching heatwave, and Molly meeting some of the visitors to her Little Free Library. Then we deep dive on The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston. During our chat, we share our favorite time hop stories (books and movies). When we get into what we're reading this week, we launch into a conversation about content warnings (are they necessary?), Steph gushes about a pirate-themed meet cute, Kaitlin starts a book by a celebrity author, and Molly admits that her current book is extra spicy. To keep up with everything we're reading, give us a follow on Instagram, @plansarebooked. If you'd like to suggest a topic for a future episode, please write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 34: This Golden State by Marit Weisenberg Jun 27, 2024

We kick off this week with a lively catch up. Steph details the latest drama with the plumber at the renovation house (and makes a big reveal). She also tells us about volunteering at two different barns. Kaitlin recaps her re-retirement party from teaching and gushes about the recent Normal People viewing party with Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones. Molly insists everyone try the burrata and smashed avocado salad at Josephine and gets all the feels talking about the official start to summer in Hull. Then we deep dive on a book we all really enjoyed, This Golden State. We talk about the line between YA and adult fiction, the power of deep family bonds, the joy of first love, our hope that this becomes a TV series, and our wish for a second book to continue following these complex characters. To follow along with what we're currently reading, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. If you have a book you're like us to cover, write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 33: This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune Jun 20, 2024

This week we're in a summer state of mind. We're elated about the warmer weather, driving with the windows down, and ordering giant iced drinks. In our catch up, Kaitlin tells us about her weekend trip to Portsmouth, NH. Molly recaps her road trip to Vermont (and her newfound love for maple-flavored desserts), and Steph shares her weekend of reading and hanging with her favorite neighborhood pup. Then, we deep dive on Carley Fortune's newest book, This Summer Will Be Different. We enter Felix into our book boyfriend hall of fame, relish the deep friendship between Lucy and Bridget, and consider a future trip to Prince Edward Island. To keep up with everything we are reading, follow us on Instagram, @plansarebooked. If you have an idea for a future episode, please write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 32: All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir Jun 13, 2024

We have a very special episode for you this week. In addition to chatting about a book we all loved and think should be required reading, we kick off the episode by sharing the TV shows we are currently loving. Molly admits she finally cut the cord with cable, which launches a spirited conversation about how all of us will watch the upcoming Paris Olympics. We debate which Olympics are better (summer or winter), Kaitlin makes a plea to Steph and Molly to consider watching more professional sports, and Molly argues that being a Bravo TV fan is just as rewarding and competitive. We also catch up on the end of Kaitlin's school year and Steph sending her first query letter. Then we gush about All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir, a book that moved us. We discuss how the YA genre embraces tough topics, the power of immigrant stories, and how the author's personal life experience and passions became infused into the story. To keep up with everything we're reading, give us a follow on Instagram @plansarebooked. If you'd like to suggest a book or topic for us to cover, write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 31: One in a Millennial by Kate Kennedy Jun 06, 2024

We're back, baby! After a week off we've returned to the airwaves. In our catch up, Molly shares all about her two-week vacation, Stephanie chronicles her recent escapades at the flip house (hello, flying squirrel!) and she tells us about writing her query letter. Kaitlin updates us on her house hunting quest and we hear all about her private school's recent centennial celebration. This week we deep dive on Kate Kennedy's book, One in a Millennial, including our thoughts on pop culture analysis vs. memoir, the influence of Saved by the Bell, the potency of lifeguard culture, and so much more. We close with what we're reading this week, including two highly praised beach reads and a new author who is being compared to Sally Rooney. To keep up with everything we're loving, give us a follow on Instagram, @plansarebooked. If you'd like to suggest a book for a future episode, shoot us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 30: Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie May 23, 2024

This week we celebrate entering our 30s! Well, 30 episodes. In our catch up, Molly shares an intense work moment, Steph talks about a great conversation with a friend writing a memoir, and Kaitlin gives a live text message update on her house hunt. Then we deep dive on a book we all really enjoyed, Songs in Ursa Major. We talk about the appeal of stories set in New England seaside towns, the joy of reading about generations of women living under one roof, the strong side characters in this cast, and Molly's penchant for men who play the piano. We also compare Songs in Ursa Major to another favorite, Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Kaitlin also tells us about the time she took a query letter course with the author, Emma Brodie. We're taking a small break while Molly is on an international vacation, so our next new episode will be Thursday, June 6, 2024. In the meantime, you can follow along with everything we're reading on Instagram, @plansarebooked. If you'd like to get in touch, write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 29: Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll May 16, 2024

We have a packed episode for you this week. Stephanie celebrates finishing the second draft of her book manuscript. She also tells us all about her day trip to Chicago for her cousin's bridal shower at Cindy's Rooftop. Kaitlin shares that she resigned from her teaching position, and Molly and Kaitlin recap their evening at the Boujee Bookstore's Bookstagram Bash in Norwood, MA. We gush about meeting other bookstagrammers, the incredible raffle prizes, and Molly's bounty of winnings by the end of the night. This week we deep dive on Jessica Knoll's Bright Young Women. We talk about the Rolling Stone article that inspired the premise and the parallels to Know My Name by Chanel Miller and the movie Promising Young Woman. We're all across the board genre-wise in what we're reading this week - romance, memoir and pop culture analysis. To keep up with all our book picks, give us a follow @plansarebooked on Instagram. To recommend a book for a future episode, write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 28: The Idea of You (Movie Recap) May 09, 2024

Fueled by Mexican food, gin cocktails and a bottle of rosé, we're sharing our live reactions to the film adaptation of The Idea of You by Robinne Lee. We gathered at Steph's house to watch the movie together and boy do we have thoughts. We break down our approach to managing expectations when books head to screen, why many of these productions should come with a "loosely inspired by" warning, the shocking changes to the lead character of Solene, the switch up of the primary conflict in the plot, and how Nicholas Galitizine can save any scene. We also chat about the habit of rewatching, and share our review of the Zendaya movie Challengers, which we saw together in the theatre. We chat about the scenes filmed at Kaitlin and Molly's alma mater, Wheaton College, and deep dive on our fascination with actor Mike Faist. We close our discussion with what we're reading right now, during which Molly made Steph tear up by reading a particular excerpt from an acknowledgements section. This episode is a wild one! Join us for more fun on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or shoot us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com. We always love hearing from you.

Chapter 27: She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper May 02, 2024

This week we deep dive on a book we all raced through, She Rides Shotgun. We chat about the appeal of adult / kid tag teams, anti-hero stories, how writers create a sense of grittiness, and whether this author has personal ties that enabled him to write so realistically about both trauma and the justice system. In our catch up this week, Stephanie shares that her flip house is officially listed for sale! We also hear about her weekly volunteering at the horse barn. Molly squeals with excitement about going to the movie theater to see the Zendaya movie Challengers. Kaitlin gives us her top tracks from Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poet's Department, and all three of us share our giddiness about The Idea of You movie release day (today!). If you want to follow along with what we're reading, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. If there's a book you think we should read and discuss, send us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 26: Thicker Than Water by Kerry Washington Apr 25, 2024

We have a packed episode for you this week! In our catch up, Molly shares about her recent girls trip to Long Beach Island. Kaitlin fills us in on her latest round of open houses, her upcoming concert line up, and her discovery of the new Romeo + Juliet coming to Broadway this fall. Stephanie details her volunteer time at the barn, including what made her tear up in the ring. We share our plans for Indie Bookstore Day (Saturday, April 27) and answer the question, "What makes you stop reading a book?" Our answers will definitely surprise you. Then we deep dive on actress and activist Kerry Washington's memoir. Molly shares the two podcast interviews from the book's press tour that made her want to read it, and we all share our reactions to the pacing, the story arc, and the big reveal at the end. As always, we love hearing from you, so please shoot us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com and give us a follow on Instagram, @plansarebooked.

Chapter 25: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson Apr 18, 2024

We are one day away from the release of the new Taylor Swift album and the Plans are Booked gals are excited! Kaitlin shares that she's going to a Swiftie dance party to celebrate. She also fills us in on her house hunting journey and her recent trip to Wu Song tiki bar in Harvard Square. Molly recaps her food-filled weekend in Charleston, SC. Stephanie details the final weeks of her house renovation, including what we're now calling the "no toilet" phase. We close out our catch up with the arrival of our Miss Peaches merch, which supports animal rescues across the country. Then we deep dive on a book we all really enjoyed, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. We talk about the appeal of girl detectives (shoutout to the OG, Harriet the Spy) and how excited we are for the TV adaptation of this book, which is already filming for the BBC. This week, our current reads are across three genres, and we get into a spirited conversation about the future casting of the screen version of Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage. To keep up with everything we're loving, give us a follow on Instagram, @plansarebooked. If you have an idea for a future episode topic, please write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 24: Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman Apr 11, 2024

Welcome to episode 24. This week we realize that we've been podcasting for six months and have a hilarious conversation about how we picture the calendar in our minds. Molly recaps her recent trip to Providence, including its evolution from "home of the mall" to foodie destination. We share about our group outing to Portsmouth, where we hit two independent bookstores and had a feast at Street. Stephanie updates us on her house renovation, including this week's debacle with the refrigerator delivery. Then we deep dive on a book we all adored, Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman. We talk about how realistic this story feels compared to other books in the romance genre, and who we were picturing as the actor at the center of the plot. We praise one of the side characters, Oliver, and manifest him getting his own spin off story. We touch briefly on another one of Sussman's books, Once More with Feeling, and share our excitement for her next one, which comes out in September. We close with a conversation about what we're currently reading. All three of us were in the mystery / thriller realm this week. We love hearing from you, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or send us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 23: Tearjerker Books Apr 04, 2024

Get out the tissues, because this week we're talking about books that made us cry. Kaitlin admits that stories about teenage boys going through a hard time always wreck her, Stephanie shares three favorites (and gets a bit choked up on air), and Molly heads to memoir land to revisit the books that undid her, including one that made her ugly cry on a plane. In our catch up, we shift into joy mode. Stephanie updates us on her new volunteer role at a horse barn and Molly raves about a new restaurant find in Cambridge. We close by sharing what we're reading now, including a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick that has surprisingly scathing Goodreads reviews. We love hearing what you're excited about and what you think we should read next. Connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or send an email to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 22: A Love Song For Tia Williams Mar 28, 2024

This week we're gushing about one of our favorite authors, Tia Williams. We share how moved we were by Seven Days in June and how eager we were for this year's release of A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. In our catch up, Molly shares about her recent trip to Library Restaurant, Kaitlin tells us about her spring break in Florida, and Steph asks the question, "Do you have an inner monologue?" which leads to a 15-minute discussion on how our brains work. This episode Molly admits her newfound obsession with the rescue pup Miss Peaches, and we debate matching swag to support her animal rescue work. We close by sharing what we're reading this week - a mix of fantasy, murder mystery, and small town romance. We love chatting with you, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or send us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 21: The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart Mar 21, 2024

Welcome to episode 21. Our podcast is old enough to drink. Cheers to that! This week we're talking about mysteries - why we love them, our early childhood favorites, and how this genre reels in even the most skeptical young readers. We deep dive on a mystery we all just finished, The Butcher and the Wren. Author Alaina Urquhart lives in Boston, hosts two podcasts, and works as an autopsy technician. In our catch up, Kaitlin shares about her flat tire disaster, Molly recaps her day at jury duty, and Steph updates us on her current phase of the house renovation: bathroom tiling. We close by sharing what we're reading this week. Steph confesses she added a book to the DNF pile, Kaitlin is nearly done with Seven in Days in June by Tia Williams, and Molly has fallen down the Helen Hoang rabbit hole. We love hearing from you, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or send us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 20: A Love Letter to Graphic Novels Mar 14, 2024

It's our 20th episode! We're celebrating with prosecco, funfetti cake, and a genre we all adore - graphic novels. Kaitlin kicks us off on why she loves the combination of beautiful illustrations with powerful dialogue, Steph shares a graphic novel she read recently that moved her to tears, and Molly reviews her first-ever read of this kind. We also live react to the movie trailer for The Idea of You (give episode 3 a listen if you missed our review of the book). We talk about the casting of Nicholas Galitzine as Hayes and Anne Hathaway as Solene, and how we hope the film will embrace their story. We also give a shoutout to a local Massachusetts bookstore we're loving, and Molly unwraps a blind date book on air. We love hearing from you, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or shoot us a quick email to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 19: Female Indigenous Stories with Angeline Boulley Mar 07, 2024

This week we're celebrating an author who has inspired and educated us, Angeline Boulley. She writes stories with indigenous women at the center. We loved her first book, Firekeeper's Daughter, and just raced through her second one, Warrior Girl Unearthed. We talk about Boulley's position in the Obama White House, the way she has nuanced conversations about identity, and how she brilliantly brings readers into a fully immersive world. In our catch up, Kaitlin shares how pho healed her from a lingering cold, Stephanie updates us on her renovation house, and Molly recaps her long weekend in Miami with her family. We close with the list of what we're currently reading, during which Kaitlin introduces us to a new genre called "door stop fantasy." Stephanie is reading the new Ali Hazelwood book, Bride, and Molly is reading a book Ali Hazelwood recommended called Sex, Lies and Sensibility by Nikki Payne. We love hearing from you and knowing what you are reading. Connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or send us a quick note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 18: Hot and Bothered Feb 29, 2024

This week we're riled up about romance. We're hot off attending the "Happily Ever After" event at WBUR City Space where we had the extreme pleasure of hearing from romance authors Beverly Jenkins, Jasmine Guillory and Ali Hazelwood. We share the most memorable moments from the panel discussion, the ways they made us feel seen, and advice they offered to aspiring writers. We also sing the praises of the amazingly talented moderator, Kalyani Saxena. In our catch up session, Kaitlin brings us on her house hunting journey, Stephanie fills us in on the latest at her renovation project, and Molly admits that she actually cooked on her recent weekend trip to Maine. We close by shouting out the current books we're reading, which are an extra eclectic mix this week. Listen carefully for a heads up on the subject of next week's episode (hint: we're transporting ourselves to Michigan). We love chatting with all of you, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or send a us note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 17: Praise for Lauren Oliver Feb 22, 2024

It's our 17th episode, Kaitlin's lucky number, and we have a big one for you this week. We're going deep on an author who has written children's books, YA and adult fiction - Lauren Oliver. Stephanie and Kaitlin share how they bonded over Oliver's books early on in their friendship, and we all agree that YA has dramatically risen in popularity and visibility since Oliver's books began hitting shelves in 2010. We also share what we're reading this week, including three books we're racing through and can't wait to pass on to each other. In our catch up, we gush about some food favorites - a new ramen spot for Kaitlin, a surprising presentation of tiramisu for Molly, and the secret to Steph's addictive brown butter chocolate chip cookies. We love hearing from you, so please reach out to us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or send us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 16: Tell Me Everything by Minka Kelly Feb 15, 2024

Welcome to our Sweet Sixteen! This week we're gushing about actress Minka Kelly's memoir. You may know her from Friday Night Lights and Parenthood, but we're certain you don't know about her wild childhood and the intense journey she experienced on the road to Hollywood. In our catch up, Kaitlin shares that she's interviewing for a new teaching position, Stephanie updates us on her current flip house project, and Molly rates Amazon Prime's latest rom-com. We wrap by sharing what we're reading this week, including a graphic novel, Tia Williams' new romance, and a book with a superb acknowledgements section. We love hearing from you and knowing what you're reading, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or reach out to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 15: Glossy by Marisa Meltzer Feb 08, 2024

This week we begin by exchanging Galentine's Day gifts and reviewing the movie All of Us Strangers, co-starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal. Then, we deep dive on what may be our most polarizing book choice yet - Glossy by Marisa Meltzer. We talk about startup culture, the power of Boy Brow, and how an intern at Teen Vogue became a beauty mogul. We close by sharing what books we're reading currently - three extremely different genres this week. We love hearing from you, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or send us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 14: Storytelling Through Food - Our Favorite Cookbooks Feb 01, 2024

It's a big week for the Plans are Booked gals! Molly shares her brush with fame, putting her two degrees of separation from Taylor Swift. We rave about Stephanie's latest book draft and the epic brunch she hosted to collect feedback from reader friends. She goes deep on whether she wants this new book to be classified as literary fiction or romance. Next, we work up an appetite sharing our favorite cookbooks. Stephanie praises Chrissy Teigen and her corn pudding, Kaitlin confesses she can't stop making Stanley Tucci's eggs and tomato, and Molly admits she's still turning to the chocolate chip cookie recipe she learned in elementary school. We close out the conversation with what we're reading this week and a few of the books we'll be discussing throughout February. As always, we love hearing from you. Please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or send us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 13: The Queen of Romance Tropes, Lynn Painter Jan 25, 2024

This week we deep dive on an author whose books we've been binge reading the last few months, Lynn Painter. We talk about our favorite characters, her incredible gift for banter, and the way she deeply understands the teenage mind. Kaitlin catches us up on her trip to Washington D.C. including a tour of the White House (and its library), two museums, and of course, Kramer Books. Molly and Steph recount meeting romance author Jenny Howe at Belmont Books. Listen to the full episode for an exciting update on a giveaway we're running this week of Jenny's newest book! We round things out with the titles we're currently reading, including a moment where Molly and Steph give completely opposite reviews of the same romance novel. To stay up to date on everything we're reading, follow along on Instagram, @plansarebooked. We loved hearing from you, so please write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 12: An Ode to Coffee Table Books Jan 18, 2024

This week, punch drunk on ice cream frappes, we have a lively conversation full of hot topics. We dig into Wattpad - What is it? Who uses it? Do you call your account a pad? We chat about Ali Novak's My Life with the Walter Boys, both the book and the recent adaptation for Netflix. We have a heated discussion about books vs. audiobooks and what the correct verb to use is when describing enjoying a story through your eyes vs. your ears. Then we share, with great pride, our favorite coffee table books. We explain how we found them or received them, why they're special, and where we display them in our homes. We close with what we're currently reading, including a dissection of the cover art for Katherine Center's Things You Save in a Fire. We love hearing your thoughts and knowing what books you're reading, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or send us an email to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 11: Beartown by Fredrick Bachman Jan 11, 2024

This week we're transporting ourselves to Sweden to gush about Fredrik Backman's Beartown. In our most passionate conversation yet, we rave about his stunning writing, the strong characters, the deep sense of place, and the parallels to Friday Night Lights. We also catch up on our recent outings, including to see the movie Anyone But You, which leads to a lovely tangent about our go-to rewatch rom-coms. Kaitlin asks a burning question (which we need your input on!), to Kindle or not to Kindle? We end by sharing what we're currently reading and a few books we can't wait to get our hands on, including the upcoming So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls (And Why We're Still So Obsessed with It). We love hearing from you, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 10: Books We Wish We Could Read Again For The First Time Jan 04, 2024

Happy new year! In our first episode of 2024 we're talking about books that gave us all the feels. We also catch up about our holiday breaks. Kaitlin headed to Cape Cod, Molly drove up to Vermont, and Stephanie made great progress at her flip house project. Listen carefully for a few Easter eggs about the book we're deep diving on next episode (hint: it's about hockey). We love hearing from you, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 9: Our Favorite Books of 2023 Dec 28, 2023

In our version of Spotify Wrapped, we're ending the year by sharing our favorite books of 2023. Though we compiled our lists separately, we were surprised and delighted to discover some overlap in our top picks. During this conversation, Stephanie shares about the book manuscript she's writing and her upcoming flip house project, Kaitlin reveals the meaning behind her annual Goodreads reading goal, and we resolve as a group to read more non-fiction books in 2024. We'd love to hear which titles made your top list for 2023. Connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or send us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com. Happy New Year, readers!

Chapter 8: Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone Dec 21, 2023

We're in the holiday spirit this week, opening the episode by unwrapping gifts on air. Stephanie surprises Kaitlin and Molly with a regal spectacular, and Molly adds fuel to the Swiftie fire for Kaitlin and Stephanie just in time for them to head to Gilette Stadium hoping for a Taylor sighting at the Chiefs vs. Patriots game. This hour we gush about our Julie Murphy fandom, Kaitlin and Stephanie recap seeing her live at an author event, and Molly explains how Merry Little Meet Cute is the convergence of three of her favorite things - rom-coms, Christmas, and boy bands. We also catch up on recent outings and adventures, including big updates from Stephanie on her book manuscript and flip house project, Kaitlin witnessing a hat trick at a Bruins game, and Molly enjoying a Sunday Funday with her niece. As always, we love hearing from you. Connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or email us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 7: Books We Love To Gift Dec 14, 2023

With holiday season in full swing, Kaitlin, Stephanie and Molly share their favorite books to gift. There are ideas for kids and young adults, first-time romance readers, readers looking to learn more about marginalized groups in America, and several tearjerker books. We also recap our Thanksgiving weeks, the bookstores we hit up on Small Business Saturday, and the titles we're racing through right now. We love hearing what you are reading, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or shoot us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 6: The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Dec 07, 2023

In this week's episode, we travel to Basgiath and deep dive on all things Fourth Wing. We discuss everything we learned about dragons and share our thoughts on the casting for the TV adaptation of the book. We also fan girl over Lauren Graham after attending the first stop of her book tour together at Boston's Wilbur Theater. Be sure to listen to the full episode for some tea on authors who've DMed us, and Molly opening a surprise book gift on air. We love hearing from you, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 5: The Woman In Me by Britney Spears & Book Boyfriends Nov 30, 2023

In our juiciest (and longest) conversation yet, we cover two very hot topics: Britney Spears' new memoir and personal lists of our top book boyfriends. We each share our three swooniest candidates and hilarity ensues. Who knew that reading could make your "type" so clear? We also give several personal updates, including Kaitlin's knee injury, Molly's getaway in Maine, Stephanie's road trip to New York and some exciting news on her next house flipping project. We always love hearing from you, so please connect with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 4: Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren & Every Summer After by Carley Fortune Nov 16, 2023

In our fourth episode we kick off with Kaitlin and Stephanie's thoughts on Killers of the Flower Moon (the book and the movie) and Molly's review of a new restaurant. Then we celebrate one of our favorite romance tropes, the "now and then" reunion stories. We compare and contrast two love stories, both coming of age tales set at family vacation homes. We'd love to hear what you think - follow us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or shoot us a note to plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 3: The Idea of You by Robinne Lee Nov 09, 2023

This week on Plans Are Booked we're chatting about some long-awaited releases - Taylor Swift's 1989, Britney Spears' memoir - and we gush about one of our favorite romance novels, The Idea of You. The story will soon hit the big screen starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine. Filming has already wrapped, so now is a perfect time to hear why we loved it and read it before the movie premieres. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, and to tell us what you're reading.

Chapter 2: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Nov 02, 2023

In this week's episode we share what we're reading and some new independent bookstores we discovered on our recent travels. Then we deep dive into a book series we all raced through, The Inheritance Games, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Inspired by the Hawthorne brothers, we also hatch a plan to dedicate a full episode to book boyfriends. If you want to stay in touch with us in between episodes, follow us on Instagram, @plansarebooked. We're excited to hear what you're reading too.

Chapter 1: Welcome to Plans Are Booked Nov 02, 2023

In our very first episode we introduce ourselves, how we met, share what got us into reading, and the genres of books we enjoy most. In future weeks we'll share what we're currently reading and deep dive into a book or series that we love. In between listening, follow us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, for real time updates and the things we're energized about.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected