Currently Reading

Season 8, Episode 17: New Bookcases + Reading Therapy w/Mary Heim

November 24, 2025

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  • The hosts kicked off the episode by sharing bookish moments centered around the joy and necessity of making physical space for books, specifically discussing the installation of new IKEA Billy bookcases. 
  • The deep dive segment introduced 'reading therapy,' where the hosts explored listener struggles with burnout and finding inspiring reading material, emphasizing the validity of these feelings despite privilege. 
  • A major theme emerging from the reading therapy discussion is the importance of assessing one's current reading needs—whether to 'lean in' to difficult realities or to 'escape'—and recognizing that sometimes a reading slump signals a need for broader life support. 
  • Mary Heim suggests that a prolonged inability to read or a noticeable shift in one's reading life can serve as a 'vital sign' indicating a need for extra personal support, potentially including therapy. 
  • Meredith strongly endorses seeking therapy, sharing that it has been life-changing and has even saved her marriage. 
  • Meredith recommends the Peacock series adaptation of Andrea Mara's book *All Her Fault* as a highly bingeable, soapy, and over-the-top watch for those who enjoyed the novel. 

Segments

Podcast Introduction and Hosts
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(00:00:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The Currently Reading podcast features hosts Meredith Monday Schwartz and Mary Heim sharing strong, spoiler-free opinions on recent reads.
  • Summary: The hosts introduce themselves, noting Meredith is a CEO in Austin and Mary is a therapist in Wisconsin. They clarify that the episode will feature current reads, a deep dive on reading therapy, and a visit to the fountain. Mary humorously notes she is hanging up her ’therapist sign’ for the deep dive segment.
Bookcase Renovation Joy
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(00:01:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Mary Heim experienced significant joy after her husband completed installing floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves using IKEA Billy bookcases, filling them with all-time favorite books.
  • Summary: Mary’s bookish moment involved finally completing a long-delayed renovation project to install new bookshelves after 18-24 months of disruption. She emphasized the emotional difference having beloved books surrounding her makes the space feel more like home. The process of curating which favorites go on these specific shelves has been a source of joy.
Culling TBR Piles
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(00:03:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith undertook a massive book culling process due to overflowing shelves, leading to an existential reflection on closing doors on past reading selves.
  • Summary: Meredith described filling multiple walls of bookshelves (dining room and office) over two years, leading to unmanageable piles of unread TBR books. She realized she needed to let go of books she was no longer the reader for, which prompted an existential moment about mourning the choices (and books) one leaves behind to move forward.
Current Read: The Executioners Three
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(00:08:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Mary highly recommends The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard as a perfect blend of creepy, spine-tingling atmosphere, paranormal folklore, and gritty small-town crime with strong 90s vibes.
  • Summary: This YA mystery is set in a town reminiscent of Stars Hollow meets Sleepy Hollow, where a prank squad uncovers mysterious deaths linked to local folklore. Mary praised the book for perfectly balancing creepy atmosphere with cozy hints, noting its pitch-perfect 90s details like non-smart phones and The X-Files.
Current Read: 25 Days
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(00:11:14)
  • Key Takeaway: 25 Days by Per Jacobson is an ‘advent work of horror’ best consumed strictly one chapter per day starting December 1st to maximize the daily anticipation and tension.
  • Summary: The book follows a family trapped at a remote cabin where sinister gifts appear daily in a stocking for 25 days, turning it into a deadly game. Meredith stressed that the functional writing is secondary to the experience, which is elevated by the daily discipline required to read only one short chapter. The format makes the book feel more like an activity than a traditional novel.
Current Read: Madame Pamplemousse
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(00:21:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles by Rupert Kingfisher is a highly recommended middle-grade novel perfect for read-alouds, featuring a ‘swing-up’ story about a child finding an adult mentor.
  • Summary: The story centers on Madeline, who is mistreated by her greedy Uncle Lard in Paris until she discovers a secret shop of magical edibles and an enigmatic mentor. Meredith loved the book’s combination of wickedness and warmth, noting it trusts young readers with sophisticated vocabulary and shows adults as trustworthy allies. Mary immediately purchased multiple copies for her daughter and nieces due to its themes of finding confidence.
Current Read: Wild Reverence
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(00:28:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Mary declared Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross a masterpiece and an all-time favorite, noting its prose reads like Madeline Miller and that it is a prequel that builds the mythology of the Divine Rivals duology.
  • Summary: The novel follows Matilda, a young goddess whose messenger magic connects her to a dreaming mortal boy, intertwining their faiths. Mary strongly advised reading it after the duology to fully appreciate its complexity, though she noted this prequel reads more deeply than the previous books. Ross completely overhauled the nearly 500-page manuscript after finishing the first draft, resulting in a superior final product.
Current Read: Heir Apparent
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(00:33:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage is a debut royal drama that balances frothy palace intrigue with a thoughtful exploration of grief and the weight of public expectation.
  • Summary: Lexi Villiers, who previously walked away from royal life, is suddenly next in line for the British throne after her father and brother die, giving her one year to decide her future. The author, a former royal journalist, grounds the story in protocol while exploring the emotional truth of Lexi’s situation. Meredith found the ending earned and praised the smart writing for keeping the outcome genuinely uncertain.
Reading Therapy: Burnout and Guilt
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(00:39:08)
  • Key Takeaway: For readers experiencing professional burnout and guilt over their privilege, Meredith suggested seeking a whole self-reading and exploring resources like Danielle Laporte’s The Firestarter Sessions or Desire Map.
  • Summary: The first listener question detailed feeling burnt out at a high-level career despite recognizing privilege, questioning whether to stay or push for more, and feeling unable to connect with books. Mary introduced the concept of radical acceptance—acknowledging current circumstances without resisting them—and focusing energy on values-aligned actions, even if that means temporarily setting reading aside.
Reading Therapy: Feeling Dead Inside
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(00:50:51)
  • Key Takeaway: When feeling emotionally numb due to the political landscape, readers should identify if they need escapist reading (like Agatha Christie for ‘making it make sense’) or reading that leans into perseverance and community care.
  • Summary: The second listener felt dead inside and found typically successful books too sweet or lacking emotional weight. Mary hypothesized that escapist reading might not be satisfying right now, suggesting a need to read stories that show struggle, perseverance, and community rebuilding, citing Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore as an example of leaning into the mess. Meredith added that books focusing on community care, like The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, can inspire local action.
Fountain Wishes and Final Thoughts
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(00:58:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Mary’s fountain wish encouraged listeners to view their reading life as a vital sign, suggesting that prolonged difficulty concentrating or reading might signal a need to seek extra support, such as therapy.
  • Summary: Mary championed the idea that a reading slump can act as a ‘check engine light’ for one’s overall well-being, encouraging listeners to reflect on whether they need support beyond what reading alone can provide. She stressed there is no shame in seeking help during hard seasons. The hosts concluded the segment by affirming the value of their reading therapy discussion.
Reading Slumps as Vital Signs
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(00:58:53)
  • Key Takeaway: A sustained inability to engage with reading can signal underlying personal struggles warranting reflection or professional support.
  • Summary: Reading slumps, especially when prolonged, should be viewed as a potential ‘check engine light’ for one’s overall well-being. If concentration is lost and reading feels impossible for a long time, it may be an opportunity to seek extra support, which does not always have to be formal talk therapy. Recognizing when a coping mechanism like reading stops working is normal and encouraged.
Therapy Endorsement and Benefits
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(01:00:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Seeking additional skills and support through therapy is presented as a positive, life-saving action with tangible benefits beyond mental health.
  • Summary: Meredith strongly co-signed Mary’s wish for seeking support, noting that increased therapy over the last six months has been life-changing and even saved her marriage. There is no shame in realizing that established methods for coping may no longer be sufficient and that new tools are needed. Getting extra help when necessary is framed as a good and normal practice.
TV Recommendation for Book Fans
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(01:00:47)
  • Key Takeaway: The Peacock series adaptation of All Her Fault by Andrea Mara is recommended as an eight-episode, highly bingeable show.
  • Summary: Meredith recommends the TV show based on the book All Her Fault, which involves a mother picking up her child from a playdate only to find the host denies knowing the child. The series is described as soapy, over-the-top, and so engaging that Meredith stayed up until 2 AM watching it. The hosts reassure listeners that, despite the wild premise, everything will ultimately be okay in the story.
Closing Remarks and Connection
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(01:01:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners can support the Currently Reading podcast by becoming a Bookish Friend, reviewing on Apple Podcasts, or following the hosts and show on social media.
  • Summary: The hosts provided their individual Instagram handles and the show’s website for full show notes and timestamps. Becoming a Bookish Friend for $5 a month provides extra content, community access, and helps keep the show commercial-free. The episode concludes with the traditional sign-off wishing listeners hot coffee and unput-downable books.