Plans Are Booked

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. 

This week we head to non-fiction land to read a book that is part exposé and part personal reflection. Sarah bravely shares about her experience working for Facebook and the disturbing truths of being inside a company with no moral compass. We talk about the parallels between Facebook's leadership team and our current administration, the hypocrisy of Sheryl Sandberg and her Lean In movement, the importance of boundaries at work, and the tension between altruism and reality. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin discovers a love of boxing, plumbing and electrical have started at Steph's flip house, and Molly preps for summer at Nantasket Beach. In what we're reading this week, Steph and Molly are enjoying ARCs (true crime and family drama, respectively) and Kaitlin devours the final book in Lucy Score's Knockemout series. To follow along with all of our book picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

This week we're discussing an author we adore and deep diving (pun intended) on her newest romance novel. We talk about Ali's unique background - her PhD in neuroscience, her love for fan fiction, and our complete awe that English is not her first language. We praise her foray into sports romance, set among the swimming and diving teams at Stanford, adding a competitiveness that upped the stakes. We note that this is an edgier romance, including really important conversations about desire and consent. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin shares her plans for spring break (and admits to several iconic movies she's never seen), Steph updates us on the latest at the renovation house, and Molly recaps her trip to North Carolina. In what we're reading this week, Steph begins the final book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, Kaitlin continues the Chole Walsh rugby series, and Molly falls hard for a fictional hockey player thanks to Tessa Bailey. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

This week we discuss a story about resistance. Bray's novel includes three timelines and three character duos, each trying to make sense of the political environments they're living in. We discuss how YA often tackles hard topics, how strange it is to read about the pandemic, the power of first love, the themes of not being complicit and remaining hopeful, and how deeply relevant this book is to the current state of our country. In our catch up, Kaitlin recaps her trip to Charleston, Steph educates us on septic testing, and Molly shares about her vacation to Mexico. In what we're reading this week, Steph details a Tessa Bailey book set in Boston, Kaitlin starts a rugby romance, and Molly takes life advice from Matthew McConaughey's memoir. To follow along with all of our book picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

Ever wondered what it's like to listen to three figure skating super fans geek out on a book about ice dancing? This week's episode is for you. We chat about growing up in the land of Nancy Kerrigan, the competitive nature of the sport, and who we were picturing as the main characters. We also deep dive on Layne Fargo's acknowledgement for author Taylor Jenkins Reid, and how the book's structure reminded us of Daisy Jones & the Six. Then, we have a passionate discussion about the marketing of a book and how cover art and jacket summaries influence both what we purchase and our expectations before we begin reading. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin shares about her 40th birthday party, Steph completes a giant step (pun intended) at the flip house, and Molly recovers from a food coma after several back-to-back restaurant meals. In what we're reading this week, Steph is devouring an exposé about Meta, Molly finally starts Onyx Storm, and Kaitlin picks up a mystery praised by Stephen King. To follow along with all of our book recs, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

We've got a wonderfully packed episode for you this week. We recap our trip to New York City to celebrate Kaitlin's 40th birthday, Steph tells us about her new flip house project, and we deep dive on the story of Addie LaRue. We discuss the fantasy genre, Schwab's beautiful writing, timeline hopping, and unexpectedly rooting for a Shadow Daddy. We also explore questions like - what are you willing to take risks for? How long could you last under Addie's curse? In what we're reading this week, Steph begins a new Lucy Score romance, Molly is transported to Barefoot Lake, and Kaitlin shares about two memoirs, one somber and one joyful. To follow along with all of our book picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

This week we're talking about a suspenseful story that had us gripped. We talk about our favorite characters, the pacing, the parts that made us panic, the dangers of social media, and our shared opinion that this is a stellar airplane read. In our catch up this week, we recap our group outing to the Titanic exhibit, Molly reflects on a client that has her back in the restaurant world, and Steph reveals the source of the famous limoncello recipe she's following. In what we're reading this week, Kaitlin is transported to France with Addie LaRue and Steph requests "we listen and we don't judge" before revealing her current book. To follow along with all of our recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

We’ve got a very fun, thematic episode for you this week. Inspired by Ashley Poston’s book, A Novel Love Story, we’re talking about stories, settings and characters we’d like to visit. We each select a book we’d like to vacation in and one we’d consider living in. We didn’t share our picks with each other in advance, leading to a surprising, revealing, and hilarious conversation. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin tells us about her time in Florida and her first visit to Top Golf, Steph finally gets her hands on a coveted limoncello recipe, and Molly recaps her trip to North Carolina. In what we’re reading this week, Steph gives five stars to Libba Bray’s newest work, Kaitlin is enjoying How to Read a Book, and Molly has fallen deeper into the hockey romance rabbit hole. To follow along with all our recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are back in the spotlight with the release of Meghan's new Netflix show, making it the perfect time for us to share our thoughts on Prince Harry's revealing memoir, Spare. We talk about growing up in the age of Princess Diana, learning the harsh realities of the royal family's internal dynamics, the long-time bitterness between Prince Harry and Prince William, how Harry processed the loss of his mother, his infamous Halloween costume, his lengthy military experience, his ongoing mental health struggles, his relationship with Meghan, and his decision to leave. In our catch up this week, Steph and Molly attend an interior design event, Steph discovers a lavender latte that nearly compares to her beloved drink in Jackson Hole, and we chat about how reading hockey romances led to a startling realization about current NHL players. In what we're reading this week, Steph completes Rebecca Yarros' Flight & Glory series and starts a staff pick from Lovestruck Books. Molly is reading a local author's debut and can't resist sharing the hilarious acknowledgements section. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

Is there anything more thrilling than winning a giveaway? This week we had the privilege of reading an advance copy of Linda Holmes' newest book, which is packed with witty and charming banter. We talk about how fun it was to read someone else's perspective on the podcast recording and editing process, the clever way she exposes the truth behind advertising and influencer deals, the humor she brought to every date scene, and a dog-centric meet cute that had us swooning. In our catch up this week, Steph is dog sitting and using her caulking skills, Kaitlin is hosting a pup and loving a new HBO series, and Molly recaps her recent trip to Maine. In what we're reading this week, Steph is enjoying a book she describes as "a gateway drug to the fantasy genre," Kaitlin discovers a great local author, and Molly is reunited with a writer she calls the mac & cheese storyteller, always comforting and delicious. For all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.