Currently Reading

Season 8, Episode 11: Book Bundles + Books That Zigged When You Thought They’d Zag

October 13, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Buddy reading R.F. Kuang's *Katabasis* was highly recommended as a way to enhance the reading experience of complex texts, despite the author's challenging material. 
  • Roxanna highly praised Beth Brower's *The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lyon Vol.1* (found via Goodreads) as a heartwarming, witty epistolary series, calling it a favorite reading experience of the year, especially in audio format. 
  • The deep dive segment focused on books that 'zig when you expect them to zag,' meaning they consistently subvert expectations through plot choices rather than relying on a single major twist, often found in Indie Press List selections. 
  • The hosts strongly object to the Libby app replacing the 'Deliver Later' feature with 'Suspend Hold,' viewing the change as detrimental to readers who meticulously manage their digital holds. 
  • The removal of 'Deliver Later' is lamented because it allowed users to delay holds for specific periods (up to 52 weeks) without losing their place in line, whereas 'Suspend Hold' is perceived as a feature where holds 'go to die.' 
  • The hosts conclude the episode by urging Libby to reintroduce the 'Deliver Later' function, believing the change favors library management over reader convenience. 

Segments

Hosts Introduction and Episode Preview
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode structure includes Bookish Moments, Current Reads, a Deep Dive on unexpected books, and a visit to The Fountain.
  • Summary: Hosts Kaytee and Roxanna introduce themselves, noting Kaytee is a homeschooling mom in Arizona and Roxanna is a mom and business owner in Toronto who enjoys books that zig when expected to zag. They confirm Meredith is absent while traveling in the UK. The main deep dive topic for the episode is books that surprised them by subverting expectations.
Bookish Moments: Buddy Reading and Raffles
Copied to clipboard!
(00:01:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Buddy reading Katabasis by R.F. Kuang brought joy back to Roxanna’s reading life, while Kaytee organized eight themed book bundles for a church raffle.
  • Summary: Roxanna is enjoying a structured buddy read of Katabasis with Meredith, which has led to interesting discussions about the book’s complex themes. Kaytee’s bookish moment involved curating eight themed stacks of five books each (e.g., historical fiction, creepy crawlies) to be raffled at her church’s fall festival. The themed baskets will be enhanced with small, thematic additions like cozy socks or post-it notes.
Current Reads: Emma M. Lyon
Copied to clipboard!
(00:06:39)
  • Key Takeaway: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lyon Vol.1 by Beth Brower is a highly recommended, heartwarming epistolary novel described as Gilmore Girls meets 84, Charing Cross Road meets Veronica Speedwell.
  • Summary: Roxanna highly praises this 2019 backlist title, noting its witty, sassy voice and focus on independence under pressure, poverty, and betrayal. The audio narration by Genevieve Gaunt is described as an absolute delight, making the short book feel like a Netflix series. Roxanna immediately started the subsequent volumes, calling it potentially her favorite reading experience of the year.
Current Reads: Zero Stars Do Not Recommend
Copied to clipboard!
(00:14:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Zero Stars Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer is an absurdly funny apocalyptic story where vacationers on an isolated island must navigate societal breakdown after the sun explodes.
  • Summary: Kaytee enjoyed this book, which features an underachieving protagonist named Dan whose vacation turns disastrous when the sun explodes, making escape impossible. The plot involves the hotel dividing into ruling and underling classes, reminiscent of Lord of the Flies. Although the pacing felt disjointed at times, Kaytee gave it 4.25 stars for its wit and entertaining premise.
Current Reads: Silverborne Mystery of Morgan Crow
Copied to clipboard!
(00:19:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Silverborne: The Mystery of Morgan Crow by Jessica Townsend is a five-star fourth installment that successfully weaves an intricate murder mystery into the ongoing series arc, deepening character growth.
  • Summary: Roxanna highly rated this middle grade novel, noting that despite publication delays, the author used the time to integrate a satisfying mystery that advances Morgan Crow’s identity arc. The book moves the action outside the classroom into the back streets of Nevermore and features advanced language and intricate plotting comparable to Louise Penny’s best work. A chapter detailing a Halloween ‘creepover’ in the Hotel Deucalion was highlighted as particularly magical.
Current Reads: Minor Feelings Nonfiction
Copied to clipboard!
(00:27:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong is a five-star backlist essay collection that uses memoir and history to sharply examine the dissonance between American optimism and the author’s feelings of shame as a child of Korean immigrants.
  • Summary: Kaytee found this collection, written by a poet and essayist, to be razor-sharp yet intimate, avoiding the overwhelming feeling common in racial reckoning memoirs. She and her reading partner both gave it five stars, recommending it be read slowly, perhaps one essay per day, to fully absorb its depth. The book is highly rated overall and serves as an excellent entry point for readers new to essay collections.
Current Reads: Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest
Copied to clipboard!
(00:31:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman is a ten-star cozy fantasy middle grade novel set in a forest perpetually stuck in autumn, dealing gently with themes of death, grief, and friendship bonds.
  • Summary: Roxanna declared this book, found at Type Books, potentially her favorite of the year due to its unexpected turns and masterful handling of plot, which subverts typical middle grade predictability. The story follows Blair, an undead fox guiding souls, whose job is threatened by a chatty badger soul named Ginger Snipes. The book is described as an autumn hug that is witty, profound, and avoids being overly saccharine or leaning too hard into typical fall tropes.
Current Reads: Audrey and Bash Are Just Friends
Copied to clipboard!
(00:36:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Tia Williams’ YA debut, Audrey and Bash Are Just Friends, is a delightful, closed-door romance featuring an overachieving student who hires the class ‘king of fun’ to help her complete an ’experience challenge’ for her college application book.
  • Summary: Kaytee enjoyed this book, noting it contains sweet Easter eggs for fans of Williams’ adult novel, Seven Days in June. The plot centers on Audrey, who mimics the Sex Education premise by seeking experiences to make her self-help book juicier, paying Bash to help her broaden her horizons. It is recommended for readers who enjoyed The Kiss Quotient but require a closed-door YA experience.
Deep Dive: Books That Zigged When Expected to Zag
Copied to clipboard!
(00:40:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Books that consistently subvert expectations through character or thematic choices, rather than relying on shock value twists, provide a thrilling and masterful reading experience.
  • Summary: Roxanna defined this category as books that keep making unexpected plot choices throughout, which requires the reader to trust the author’s core truth. Kaytee noted that such books often come from the Indie Press List because they are outside her usual selection, leading to pleasant surprises like Hazel Says No and Margo’s Got Money Troubles. The key to success is ensuring unexpected actions stem from character or theme, not random shock value.
Fountain Wish: Pressing a Book
Copied to clipboard!
(00:53:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Roxanna pressed The Ghoul of Windy Down Vale by Jake Burt, a creepy, twisty middle grade Western horror novel with stunning language, comparing it to Dickens in the Wild West.
  • Summary: This book is set in a town built on a mud pit where Copper Innskeep protects the Vale from a ghoul, until a salesman arrives and Copper’s loyalties are tested. Roxanna emphasized that despite its middle grade classification, it is atmospheric, unexpected, and flips the Monster/Protector dynamic, making it perfect for the spooky season.
Fountain Wish: Libby Feature Request
Copied to clipboard!
(00:56:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Kaytee made a ‘petty’ wish for the library app Libby to reinstate the ‘Deliver Later’ feature, which allowed users to delay holds for up to 52 weeks, instead of the current ‘Suspend Hold’ function.
  • Summary: The ‘Deliver Later’ function was crucial for managing large numbers of simultaneous holds by allowing readers to strategically space out when books became available. The replacement feature, ‘Suspend Hold,’ requires manual reactivation and is viewed as a way for holds to ‘die’ rather than be managed effectively. Kaytee pleaded with Libby to bring back the feature, suggesting the change favors library management over reader convenience.
Libby Deliver Later Removal
Copied to clipboard!
(00:56:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The Libby app eliminated the ‘Deliver Later’ option, replacing it with ‘Suspend Hold,’ which requires manual re-activation and may affect a user’s position in the hold queue.
  • Summary: The ‘Deliver Later’ feature allowed users to push back holds for up to 52 weeks, preventing an immediate deluge of available books. The replacement, ‘Suspend Hold,’ is described as a place where holds ‘go to die’ because users must actively unsuspend them to return to the active hold list. This change is perceived as collapsing meticulously planned digital TBR management systems.
Listener Plea to Libby
Copied to clipboard!
(00:57:42)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts formally request that Libby reintroduce the ‘Deliver Later’ feature, arguing that its removal benefits libraries more than readers.
  • Summary: The hosts believe that ‘Deliver Later’ did not harm the system, as passing a hold to the next person was beneficial for everyone involved. Roxanna discovered the change immediately upon checking her app, confirming the feature’s removal when attempting to delay an available hold. The hosts express that this news was the lowlight of their week.
Show Wrap-up and Connection
Copied to clipboard!
(00:59:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners can connect with hosts Kaytee and Roxanna on Instagram, find full show notes and timestamps on the official website, and support the show via Patreon for bonus content.
  • Summary: Kaytee is found at ‘Notes on Bookmarks’ and Roxanna at ‘RoxannaTheReader’ on Instagram; production is handled by Megan Phouthavong Evans. Show notes, including all mentioned book titles and timestamps, are available at currentlyreadingpodcast.com. Supporting the show through Patreon keeps it commercial-free and provides access to bonus content.