I'll Read What She's Reading

FALL TBR

September 17, 2025

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  • The podcast hosts are transitioning to a new recording setup, which they believe will improve their conversational flow and comfort during recording. 
  • The hosts successfully completed more of their summer reading TBR than their spring TBR, attributing this to better planning and batch recording due to August travel. 
  • The podcast episode focuses on the hosts sharing their 'Fall TBR' (To Be Read) book lists, with each host detailing their chosen books and initial thoughts. 
  • The podcast hosts are discussing their fall reading lists (TBRs), highlighting a mix of genres including thrillers, romance with mystery elements, and fantasy. 
  • The discussion touches on the anticipation and casting of a new adaptation of Blake Crouch's 'Famous' starring Zach Efron, with some concern about the potential for horror elements based on Crouch's earlier work. 
  • The hosts express a desire for more diverse reading experiences and acknowledge the influence of social media, particularly TikTok, in book discovery, while also noting the financial reality of book purchasing. 

Segments

Summer TBR Recap
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(00:00:54)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts successfully completed a significant portion of their summer reading TBR, with Michaela finishing all her spring TBR and one book from her summer list, while Reggie and Kennedy also made good progress.
  • Summary: The hosts begin by recapping their summer reading TBRs, discussing which books they managed to read and their general satisfaction with their progress. They mention specific titles like ‘One Golden Summer’ and ‘Wild and Wrangled’.
Fall TBR Introductions
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(00:17:22)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts are introducing their Fall TBR lists, with Michaela aiming for ‘out of pocket’ choices like ‘Swimming Lessons’ and ‘Soul Searching’, while Kennedy and Reggie also share their selections, including ‘Tress of the Emerald Sea’ and ‘The Way of Kings’.
  • Summary: The main focus shifts to the Fall TBR lists. Michaela starts by sharing her selections, emphasizing a desire to read less popular books. Kennedy and Reggie then contribute their anticipated fall reads, discussing various genres and authors.
Brandon Sanderson & Stephen King
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(00:22:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts express both excitement and intimidation regarding Brandon Sanderson’s ‘The Way of Kings’ and ‘Mistborn’ due to their length and complex world-building, while also planning to read Stephen King’s ‘11/22/63’ for its blend of time travel and suspense.
  • Summary: The discussion delves into longer, more epic fantasy reads like Brandon Sanderson’s works, with the hosts acknowledging the commitment required. They also touch upon Stephen King’s ‘11/22/63’, noting its intriguing premise and the upcoming movie adaptation.
Thriller and Unique Reads
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(00:37:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Michaela is drawn to ‘God of the Woods’ despite polarizing reviews and its potentially anxiety-inducing theme of a missing child, while Kennedy plans to read ‘Famous’ by Blake Crouch due to its intriguing premise and upcoming adaptation, and Michaela is also tackling ‘The Devils’ by Joe Abercrombie.
  • Summary: The conversation moves to thrillers and more unique selections. Michaela discusses ‘God of the Woods’, acknowledging its potential to be unsettling but also its captivating nature. Kennedy shares her interest in ‘Famous’ and its adaptation, and Michaela adds ‘The Devils’ to her list.
Famous Adaptation Buzz
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(00:47:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Zach Efron is reportedly cast in an adaptation of Blake Crouch’s ‘Famous,’ sparking discussion about the potential casting and genre of the project.
  • Summary: The conversation begins with a discussion about the casting of Zach Efron in an adaptation of Blake Crouch’s ‘Famous,’ with speculation about him playing multiple roles and the filming date. The presence of Debbie Ryan and Phoebe Dynevor is also noted, along with the surprisingly low number of ratings for the project.
Blake Crouch’s Adaptations
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(00:48:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Blake Crouch’s book-to-screen adaptations, like ‘Dark Matter’ and ‘Wayward Pines,’ have had varying degrees of success, influencing expectations for future projects.
  • Summary: The hosts delve into the trend of book-to-movie adaptations, questioning why some are chosen despite low popularity. They discuss Blake Crouch’s previous adaptations, noting ‘Dark Matter’s’ success and ‘Wayward Pines’ cancellation, and the potential for ‘Famous’ to be a significant project.
Fall TBR: One for My Enemy
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(00:50:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Olivia Blake’s ‘One for My Enemy’ is a highly anticipated fall read, described as a modern, witch-themed ‘Romeo and Juliet’ with potential fantasy elements.
  • Summary: The discussion shifts to specific books on their fall TBR lists, with ‘One for My Enemy’ by Olivia Blake being highlighted. The hosts describe it as a potential witch-themed romance with a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ vibe and note the author’s tendency to include fantasy elements.
Fall TBR: The Passengers
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(00:52:54)
  • Key Takeaway: ‘The Passengers’ by John Marrs offers a thrilling, Black Mirror-esque premise where passengers in hacked self-driving cars face a life-or-death decision.
  • Summary: The conversation moves to another fall TBR pick, ‘The Passengers’ by John Marrs, which is described as a thriller with a ‘Black Mirror’ feel. The synopsis involves eight self-driving cars on a collision course, forcing a public judgment on who survives, and the book is the second in a series that can be read independently.
Fall TBR: Indigo Ridge
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(00:55:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Devaney Perry’s ‘Indigo Ridge’ combines cowboy romance with a murder mystery, offering a cozy yet engaging read perfect for the fall season.
  • Summary: The final fall TBR book discussed is ‘Indigo Ridge’ by Devaney Perry, part of the Eden’s series. It’s praised for its blend of non-cringy cowboy romance and murder mystery, with the last portion of the book described as a roller coaster, making it a good fit for a fall read.