Plans Are Booked

Latest Episodes:

Chapter 122: Wasp's Nest by Kat Stoddard Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

This week we're diving into a delicious family drama. Molly shares her Mount Rushmore of books in this genre, and we talk about the messiness of relationships, the haves vs. the have nots, a deep sense of place, the power of descriptive writing, the joy of short chapters, how easily we could see this as a stage play, and our hopes that it becomes a perfect, 90-minute film. In our catch up this week, Steph shouts out her supportive coworkers and gives us an update on querying, and Molly has a real life @hotdudesreading moment on Nantasket Beach. In what we're reading this week, Steph takes very good care of her friend's copy of Cowboy Casual and Molly falls in love with a hyper local beach read, Feels Like Summer. To see the full list of books we chatted about in this episode, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 121: Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

This week we're discussing a memoir that reads like fiction. We deep dive on Belle Burden's story of the dissolution of her marriage. We ask questions like - how would this have been different if they weren't affluent? How do her children feel about all of this being made public? Is her husband the world's biggest super villain? We also share our thoughts on Gwyneth Paltrow being cast in the upcoming screen adaptation. In our catch up this week, Steph shares a grievance about people returning books and tells us about her latest writing project, Kaitlin recaps her trip to Las Vegas, and Molly shares two epic restaurant meals she enjoyed. In what we're reading this week, Steph is immersed in Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen, Molly has fallen down the Off Campus rabbit hole with The Mistake by Elle Kennedy, and Kaitlin is mystified by the plot of 200 Monas by Jan Saenz. To follow along with all of our book picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 120: In Conversation with Emma Brodie May 28, 2026

Show notes

We are absolutely tickled to have author and fandom queen Emma Brodie on the show this week! She shares how her love of story began at a young age, including acting out her favorites alongside her younger siblings. Steph notes the themes that resonated for her in both of Emma's books, they discuss their shared fandoms, and a crop top that nearly bankrupted Emma. Emma also touches on being surrounded and supported by wonderful women at both Thousand Voices imprint and Reese's Book Club, how the gorgeous Into the Blue cover came to be, and using ACOTAR as a coping mechanism. To see the list of all the books discussed, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 119: The Deal (Off Campus #1) by Elle Kennedy May 21, 2026

Show notes

This week we deep dive on the first book in Elle Kennedy's popular hockey romance series, which is now available to stream as an on-screen adaptation. Steph shares how she first got into the series and plots this story on the Beartown to Heated Rivalry scale. We talk about the instant appeal of the fake dating trope, Hannah's similarities with Laney Boggs from She's All That, the utopian world of respectful hockey players that Kennedy has created, and the sporty to steamy chart we want to create to categorize all hockey romance books. In our catch up this week, we review Devil Wears Prada 2, Kaitlin goes to a dog birthday at Park-9, Molly lists the highlights from her trip to Washington DC, Steph and Molly recap their day of fun including a stop into the Midnight Lunch pop-up shop. In what we're reading this week, Steph offers a glimpse into the new Lynn Painter book and Molly finds herself reading another F1 romance book. To see the full list of books we mentioned this episode, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 118: Into the Blue by Emma Brodie May 14, 2026

Show notes

This week we're talking about a book that has taken the reading community by storm. We share how much we loved her first book - Songs in Ursa Major, the singular nature of this story rooted in improv and on-stage partnership, the main characters' cosmic connection, AJ's unique and powerful character arc, who we pictured as Noah, and how deeply this love story resonated. In our catch up this week, we praise the arrival of warmer temperatures and outdoor dining, Molly gets ready for mudslides at her favorite restaurant in Hull, and Kaitlin shares about her upcoming trip to Las Vegas. In what we're reading this week, Molly is halfway through Heartbreak is the National Anthem by Rob Sheffield and Kaitlin is fully immersed in Strangers by Belle Burden. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 117: In Conversation with Juliet Izon May 07, 2026

Show notes

This week we are delighted to welcome to the show veteran journalist and debut novelist Juliet Izon. We discuss her childhood love of writing, her dream to work at Vogue, the first kernel of her book idea, the original title for The Encore and its deep meaning, casting inspiration for a future screen adaptation, her advice for aspiring writers, and why she believes adults need to have creative hobbies. Juliet also shares books she's read recently and loved. To see that full list, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 116: The Hall of Fame for Sports Books Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

We have a thematic episode for you this week, as we share our favorite sports books. Spanning contemporary fiction, non-fiction, young adult, and middle grade, our top picks cover stories about baseball, football, surfing, track & field, and more. Our chat includes a lively discussion about the difference between being a fan of live sports vs. being endlessly curious about the behind-the-scenes realities of athlete lives. In our catch up this week, Steph recommends two TV shows, Kaitlin recaps her weekend hosting her college besties, and Molly gushes about a friend's birthday party that inspired her. In what we're reading this week, Steph reviews the new Riss M. Nielson book, Kaitlin plucks Stay True off her TBR pile, and Molly falls head over heels for Emma Brodie's Into the Blue. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 115: In Conversation with Elizabeth Skarpnes Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

This week we welcome To The Gallows author Elizabeth Skarpnes to the show. She discusses her childhood love of reading, choosing library time over recess, how her book was inspired by a TikTok video, writing the first line in a Taco Bell parking lot, deciding to describe the story as "Tangled meets The Princess Bride," transitioning from nursing to writing full-time, the importance of booksellers championing authors, and how she made all her merch dreams come true with her Kickstarter campaign. To see the full list of Elizabeth's recommended reads, join us on Instagram, @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 114: Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

This week we're chatting about the upcoming novel from an author we all adore. We deep dive on Cherry Baby, discussing the reality of moving through the world in a plus-size body, the love triangle that progressed unexpectedly, Rowell's commitment to honesty and messiness in relationships, who we think really needs to read this book, and how each of us rated it and why. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin recaps the Lady Gaga concert, Hello Kitty night at Fenway Park, the scallion pancake / crab rangoon mashup at Dynasty, and seeing her former student star in Outsiders. Molly shares about her trip to Charleston, including hitting five indie bookstores and trying the Kevin McAllister pizza at Renzo. Steph returns from New York City, sharing all the great food spots she hit and the serious dose of Spring she experienced. In what we're reading this week, Steph introduces us to The Fall of Iris Henley, Molly finishes F1 romance Crash Test, and Kaitlin falls down the space exploration rabbit hole with Rocket Men. To check out all of our book picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 113: The Encore by Juliet Izon Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

This week we're discussing a debut novel that the author self-describes as "Daisy Jones & the Six meets Gossip Girl." We chat about receiving an early copy, meeting Juliet on her book tour, the cover art, how we pictured the three lead characters in our minds, the focus on music, the nostalgia of the college years, and our hopes for this to be adapted for the screen. In our catch up this week, Steph gives a recommendation for a TV show set in Boston and Molly recaps our evening at trivia night during the Bow Market Book Fair. In what we're reading this week, Steph finally gets her hands on Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke and Molly shares her real-time reaction to finishing Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

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