Book Talk, etc.

Tina @tbretc and Hannah @hanpickedbooks
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Mar 4, 2025 • 52min

Once Upon A First Sentence

Send us a textCan a single sentence make or break a book? In Episode 191 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah put first lines to the test—reading books based solely on their opening sentences and discussing what makes an introduction instantly gripping. Join us as we explore the power of a strong start and see which books reel us in from page one.If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!Book Talk, Etc on YoutubeLoving LatelyKale Caesar Salad from Love and Lemons (T)Artsy Legacy on Etsy (H)Community ReadGood Dirt | Charmaine Wilkerson (T+H)Judging Books by Their Opening LinesMostly Dead Things | Kristen Arnett (T)Perfume and Pain | Anna Dorn (H)The Lamb | Lucy Rose (T)The Haunting of Hill House | Shirley Jackson (H)Shelf Addition:The Frequency of Living Things | Nick Fuller Googins (T)Run for the Hills | Kevin Wilson (H)Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk
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Feb 25, 2025 • 52min

March Books on the Radar (2025)

Send us a textIn Episode 190 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah share the books catching their attention in March. Hannah was battling the lingering effects of the flu, so her voice isn’t at full strength—but she powered through!If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!Loving LatelyGovee LightsSmith & Taylor Classics 2025 SubscriptionLatest ReadRed Clay | Charles B. Fancher (T)The Blueprint | Rae Giana Rashad (H)March Books On the RadarBroken Country | Clare Leslie Hall (T)The River Has Roots | Amal El-Mohtar (H)I Leave It Up To You | Jinwoo Chong (T)The Antidote | Karen Russell (T)The Story She Left Behind | Patti Callahan Henry (H)Claire, Darling | Callie Kazumi (T)All the Other Mothers Hate Me | Sarah Harman (H)Tilt | Emma Pattee (T)Friends Helping Friends | Patrick Hoffman (H)Dissolution | Nicholas Binge (T)Current Reads:Mostly Dead Things | Kristin Arnett (T)Good Dirt | Charmaine Wilkerson (H)Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk
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Feb 18, 2025 • 1h 5min

Literary FOMO and Reading Books We Missed Last Year

Send us a textIn Episode 189 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah explore the ups and downs of literary FOMO—what genres and books make us feel the most pressure to read, how we navigate the ever-evolving bookish community, and the books we finally picked up after missing them last year.If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!Loving LatelyBuy Now DocumentarySeverance on Apple TV+Latest ReadDeath of the Author | Nnedi Okorafor (T)Three Lives of Cate Kay | Kate FaganAll Systems Red | Martha Wells (H)Book TalkBrett’s BookStack - YouTubeStation Eleven | Emily St. John MandelSeven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins ReidThe Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller2024 ReleasesMartyr! | Kaveh Akbar (T)Piglet | Lottie Hazell (H)Middle of the Night | Riley Sager (T)The Only One Left | Riley SagerSandwich | Catherine Newman (H)Behind the Stacks - 2024 Runner Ups with Tina from TBR, etc.Shelf Addition:What Kind of Paradise | Janelle Brown (T)Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil | V. E. Schwab (H)Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk
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Feb 11, 2025 • 53min

Easily Distracted by New Releases and What it Means to Be Well-Read

Send us a textIn Episode 188 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah are easily distracted by new releases. We dive into some of the latest book releases, sharing thoughts on what’s worth adding to your TBR..and what might be worth skipping! We also explore the idea of being a “well-read” reader. We discuss what it means, how it’s defined, and whether it’s about quantity, diversity, or simply reading with intention. If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!Loving LatelyJen Ryland Reviews (T)Thayers Facial Toner (H)Latest ReadLone Women | Victor LaValle (T)Blood Over Bright Haven | M.L. Wang (H)New Releases:The Crash | Freida McFadden (T)Only In Your Dreams | Ellie K. Wilde (H)The Inheritance | Trisha Sakhlecha (T)We Could Be Rats | Emily Austin (H)Shelf Additions:Parents Weekend | Alex Finlay (T)Heart of Winter | Jonathan Evison (H)Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk
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Feb 4, 2025 • 57min

What Makes a Great Audiobook and Choosing Books by Our Favorite Narrators

Send us a textIn Episode 187 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah are diving into the art of audiobooks, storytelling, and what makes an ideal narrator for our listening tastes. We discuss what makes an audiobook truly stand out to us - whether it's a dynamic narration, full-cast performances, or the perfect voice for the story. We also share some of our favorite narrators and how their performances influence our reading choices. If you love audiobooks or want to get more into them, this one's for you!If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!Loving LatelyKiwi Knives (T)Blockaroo Magnetic Foam Blocks (H)Latest ReadHomseeking | Karissa Chen (T+H Community Read Discussion)Book Talk:The SentenceFinding MeThe Woman in MeMoon of the Crusted SnowThe NixThe WomenBooks with Narrators We Love:I’m Starting to Worry About this Black Box of Doom | Jason Pargin (T)Nothing to See Here | Kevin Wilson (H)The Stepford Wives | Ira Levin (T)Rosemary’s Baby | Ira LevinThe Jane Austen Society | Natalie Jenner (H)Shelf Addition:The Girls We Sent Away | Meagan Church (T)Endlings | Maria Reva (H)Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk
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Jan 28, 2025 • 40min

February Books on the Radar (2025)

Send us a textIn Episode 186 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah bring their February books on the radar!If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!Loving LatelyDonatestuff.com (T)Beatrice Likes the Dark | April Genevieve Tucholke, Khoa Le (H)Latest ReadPenitence | Kristin Koval (T)The Laws of the Skies | Courtois Grégoire (H)Books on the RadarEdge of Water | Olufunke Grace Bankole (T)Listen to Your Sister | Neena VielA Forty Year Kiss | Nickolas ButlerWaiting for the Long Night Moon | Amanda Peters (T)Harlem Rhapsody | Victoria Christopher Murray (T)Loca | Alejandro Heredia (H)People of Means | Nancy Johnson (T)Yours Eventually | Nura Maznavi (H)Back After This | Linda Holmes (T)Deep Cuts | Holly Brickley (H)Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk
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Jan 21, 2025 • 51min

Easily Distracted by New Releases (January 2025) + Our Favorite Bookish Resources

Send us a textIn Episode 185 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah are easily distracted by new releases! We discuss some new releases that we have read, and we share our favorite reading resources for discovering great book recommendations! From trusted websites, book subscriptions and bookish blogs. Whether you're a mood reader, a planner, or just trying to tame and tackle your TBR, this episode is for you!If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!Loving Lately:Eto Wine DecanterArcher and Olive Undated PlannerLatest Reads and Books Mentioned:The Note | Alafair Burke (T)We Used to Live Here | Marcus Kliewer (H)Book Talk:Crime ReadsLiterary HubLit Hub’s Anticipated 2025 ReleasesBook RiotElectric LitBooklist QueenNew Releases:Three Lives of Cate Kay | Kate Fagan (T)The Secret History of the Rape Kit | Pagan Kennedy (H)Cross My Heart | Megan Collins (T)Sea of Unspoken Things | Adrienne Young (H)Shelf Additions:Disappoint Me | Nicola Dinan (T)Hurricane Girl | Marcy DermanskyWe Lived on the Horizon | Erika Swyler (H)Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk
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Jan 14, 2025 • 1h 19min

A Chat with Nadia from The StoryGraph!

Send us a textIn Episode 184 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah are joined by Nadia Odunayo, Founder, CEO and sole developer for The StoryGraph. We chat a little bit about Nadia’s personal background and share all kinds of fun information about our favorite reading tracker. We can’t wait for you to listen and share in the excitement!If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!Loving LatelyBeis Bag - The Weekender (T)The Millions - Year in Reading Series (H)Traitors UK (N)Book Talk Books MentionedThe GunnersProject Hail MaryThe FlatshareBad BloodSay NothingEmpire of PainRoguesHatching TwitterRob’s Videos - @the.storygraphBooks MentionedMad  Honey | Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan (T)Children of Red Peak | Craig DiLouie (H)What if We Get it Right | Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (N)Traci Thomas - @thestackspod on IGWhite Smoke | Tiffany D. Jackson (T)Lofi | Liz Riggs (H)Magpie Murders | Anthony Harrowitz (N)Shelf AdditionsMinistry of Time | Kaliane Bradley (N)Blood in the Water | Tiffany D. Jackson (T)Only In Your Dreams | Ellie K. Wilde (H)Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk
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Jan 7, 2025 • 48min

January Books on the Radar (2025)

Send us a textIn Episode 183 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah discuss our January books on the radar!If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!Loving LatelyKaren Podcast (T)Stardew Valley (H)Latest ReadThe Favorites | Layne Fargo (T)The Hunger | Alma Katsu (H)The Indifferent Stars Above | Daniel James Brown (H)Books Mentioned:The Three Lives of Cate Kay | Kate Fagan (T)Isola | Allegra Goodman (H)Mothers and Sons | Adam Haslett (T) What Happened to the McCrays | Tracey Lange (H)Confessions | Catherine Airey (H) I’ll Come to You | Rebecca Kauffman (H)We Do Not Part | Han Kang (T)Darkmotherland | Samrat Uphadyay (H)Tartufo | Kira Jane BuxtonWe Rip the World Apart | Charlene CarrCurrent Reads:Beautiful Ugly | Alice Feeney (T)The Honey Witch | Courtney J. Sheilds (H)Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk
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Dec 31, 2024 • 1h 6min

Book Talk Etc.’s Best Books of 2024: Our Favorite Reads of the Year

Send us a textIn Episode 182 of Book Talk, Etc., Tina and Hannah reflect on a fantastic year of reading as they share their top 20 books of 2024! We share our absolute favorites, the reads that stood out most to us, and a little bit about why these books made our best-of-the-year list.If you enjoy our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership will give you access to our exclusive bonus episodes, including Niche Novels, Books We DNFed, and What's in the Mailbag! Plus, you’ll receive invites to monthly events like Mood Reader Happy Hour and Bookstore Browsing, and a private Facebook group and Discord server where you can interact with other fans of the show... all for just $5 a month!Loving LatelyDyson Air Wrap (T)Loop Earplugs (H)Latest Read (Community Read)Rental House | Weike WangJoan is Okay | Weike Wang (mentioned)Bookish Superlatives Mentioned:Allow Me to Introduce MyselfMaeve FlyDixon DescendingThe Eyes are the Best PartEveryone is WatchingPatricia Wants to CuddleAll This & MoreMargo’s Got Money TroublesI Who Have Never Known MenFavorites of the Year!!!!If We Were Villains | ML Rio (T)The Lost Story | Meg Shaffer (H)The Paper Palace | Miranda Cowley Heller (T)The Indifferent Stars Above | Daniel James Brown (H)We Used to Live Here | Marcus Kliewer (T)Just for the Summer | Abby Jimenez (H)The Safekeep | Yael van der Wouden (T)The Mighty Red | Louise Erdrich (H)Homegoing | Yaa Gyasi (T)Stealing | Margaret Verble (H)A Place for Us | Fatima Farheen Mirza (T)The God of the Woods | Liz Moore (T)These Impossible Things | Salma El Wardany (T)I Who Have Never Known Men | Jaqueline Harpman (H)Fingersmith | Sarah Waters (T)The Secret History | Donna Tartt (H)Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk

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