Plans Are Booked

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Chapter 82: Summer Reading List Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

We have a special treat for you this week; we're sharing our top picks for summer reading. Our list is a mix of books that take place in the summer, are set in beach towns, or give us that carefree and joyful feeling that is synonymous with the season. We have titles across genres - young adult, commercial fiction, romance, and more. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin recaps her holiday weekend on Cape Cod and Molly discovers Taylor Swift Night at the Paragon Carousel. In what we're reading this week, Molly is flying through a Meghan Quinn series and Kaitlin reviews two books - a memoir and the first adult novel from a YA author. To check out all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 81: Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

This week we're transported to the English countryside, discussing a now and then story about first love, the complexity of marriage, and the devastation of loss. We praise the concise and compelling writing, the have vs. have-not set up, a surprise reveal in the final few pages, and the emotional depth that sparked deep empathy for these characters. We also share our hopes for a screen adaptation and our thoughts on who should play the lead roles. In our catch up this week, Molly admits to watching multiple newly released summer TV shows and Steph welcomes a furry friend into her home for the week. In what we're reading, Steph is reeled in by a "why choose" romance and Molly has fallen head over heels for a newly released enemies-to-lovers workplace drama. 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 80: We Were Liars (Pilot Recap) Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

Fueled by wine, brie, and gummy worms, we're sharing all of our thoughts on the first episode of the page-to-screen adaptation of We Were Liars. We begin by sharing our admiration for Carina Adly MacKenzie and Julie Plec, the women who fought to bring this story to TV. We praise their impeccable choices for set design, music selection, and cinematography that activates all of the senses to scream, "summer!" We dissect the differences between the book and the show, and share our hopes for the rest of the episodes and a potential second season. In our catch up this week, Molly has fully entered beach mode and gives a review of the movie Materialists, Kaitlin details a spectacular meal at O Ya and visits a great restaurant in her neighborhood, and Steph enters the most maddening stage of the house renovation - tiling. In what we're reading this week, Kaitlin DNFs two romance books and moves on to an audiobook, Steph starts a western that seems slightly inspired by The Inheritance Games, and Molly mentally transports to Italy with Ali Hazelwood's latest. To check out all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 79: Silver Elite by Dani Francis Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

This week we're discussing a book shrouded in mystery. Written under a pen name, Silver Elite straddles the line between a dystopian tale of resistance and a sizzling romantasy. We talk about what a military setting brings to a story, including Kaitlin's devotion to group projects and Molly's love for a training montage. We praise the strength of the male / female friendships in this book, the witty and flirtatious banter, and the subtle world building that makes this a bit more accessible than some other popular titles in this category. In our catch up this week, Molly recaps her New England road trip, Kaitlin heads to a boxing event at Fenway, Steph updates us on the house renovation and shares a hilarious encounter with a customer at the bookstore. In what we're reading this week, Steph is devouring the new Ali Hazelwood book set in Italy, Kaitlin completes another small town Lucy Score romance and begins a new book that reminds her of ones we've binged by Jordan Harper and Chris Whitaker. 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 78: Mothers and Other Fictional Characters by Nicole Graev Lipson Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

This week we're discussing an essay collection by a local author. We chat about this format and how it allows you to read as you feel called to, Lipson's honest and vulnerable reflections on womanhood, her piercing accuracy about body image and self-esteem, and how she deeply understands the complexities of all types of relationships between women. If you have a mother or you are a mother, add this to your summer reading list. In our catch up this week, Molly heads to Newburyport and binges a new page-to-screen adaptation, we beg Stephanie to make more Limoncello, and Kaitlin begins her quest to visit many of the Michelin contender restaurants around Boston. In what we're reading this week, Molly is hoping for Top Chef tea in Kristen Kish's memoir, Steph enters the land of dire wolves, and Kaitlin begins Ocean Vuong's new fiction book. To follow along with all of our top picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 77: The Colleen Hoover Controversy Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

You know her from BookTok and the legal drama surrounding the screen adaptation of her novel It Ends With Us - this week we're discussing the phenomenon that is Colleen Hoover. We talk about her meteoric rise, the immersive quality of her writing, her expert pacing, how she moves between genres, and which of her books you should start with if you're a first timer. Then, we get into Reminders of Him, including our thoughts on the recent casting for the film. In our catch up this week, Molly heads to the Boston Pops and Steph updates us on installing dry wall and the dreaded porta-potty phase of the renovation. In what we're reading this week, Steph praises a new fantasy book and Molly grins over the banter in Summer Romance. 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 76: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune May 29, 2025

Show notes

We reunite with the queen of summer reads this week, as we dive into her latest novel. We head back to Barry's Bay, home of the flirtatious Charlie Florek, who we'd like to nominate for the Book Boyfriend Hall of Fame. We discuss Carley's mastery of the genre, her gift for the nostalgic, the joy of a lovable grandparent character, and a pickling scene that had our hearts melting. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin heads to a graduation party and admits her addiction, Steph anticipates a page-to-screen adaptation of a childhood favorite, and Molly hits the jackpot at a neighbor's Little Free Library. In what we're reading this week, Steph highlights the author controversy around Silver Elite, Kaitlin is pleasantly surprised by How to End a Love Story, and Molly jumps into Curtis Sittenfeld's newest book. To follow along with all of our top picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 75: We Were Liars + Family of Liars by E. Lockhart May 22, 2025

Show notes

This week we are in a summer state of mind. We've transported to Beechwood Island off of Martha's Vineyard to analyze the suspicious behavior of the Sinclair family. We're sharing our thoughts on both of E. Lockhart's stories about this mega rich family with generations of dark secrets. We talk about how this book sits at the center of a Venn diagram of YA, contemporary fiction and mystery and applaud the author's ability to tackle tough topics, share our hopes for the screen adaptation, and strongly recommend reading the books back-to-back for optimal sleuthing. In our catch up this week, Steph returns and tells us all about her time in Indiana, Molly heads to the Cape for the first time in years, and Kaitlin enjoys a family weekend and a memorable round of golf. In what we're reading this week, Steph devours an ARC, Molly deepens her admiration for Katie Sturino, and Kaitlin is immersed in a dark tale of missing women. To access all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Chapter 74: The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei May 15, 2025

Show notes

This week we're discussing a debut novel from a beautiful writer. We dissect this singular story, delving into family dynamics and obligations, point of view decisions, unlikable narrators, and the magic of strong prose, even when you aren't rooting for a single character. After reading Wei's first book, we're eagerly anticipating what she creates next. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin heads to the club and shares the emotional rollercoaster of being a Celtics fan this playoff season. Molly recaps her trip to Miami and reveals her secret shopping trip on the way to Kaitlin's house. In what we're reading this week, we celebrate the arrival of beach read season. Kaitlin devours the new Carley Fortune, and highly recommends an essay collection about motherhood. Molly reads her first Lucy Score book and finally understands the hype. 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 73: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood May 08, 2025

Show notes

This week we're discussing a story about found family, set in Portland, Maine. We hypothesize that chapter one may have started out as a short story, we applaud Wood's beautiful writing and intentional word choice, how the shifting verb tenses deepened our immersion with each character, the way this tale stayed with us for many days after we finished reading, and our hopes for it to become a mini series. In our catch up this week, we read a lovely listener email, Kaitlin attends a camp reunion, Steph starts painting at the flip house, and Molly recaps Independent Bookstore Day. In what we're reading this week, Steph picks up a K-drama romance, Molly opens a time capsule to 1999, and Kaitlin is halfway through a romance that reads more like a mystery. 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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