Talk Booky To Me

Like a famous poet once said, "wake me up when...(December?) ends..." You get the point. Join us, Felicia and Aaron, as we mourn another month of disappointingly slow reading. We open with some political news and a good look-back at 2025 in books, talk about our (mostly) failed time crunch month, including the dirty side of NYC kitchens and more complaints about a Christmas serial killer, award some superlatives, and wrap up with another fun question about literature. Thank you for joining us on this last attempt to meet some TBR goals, and we hope you were more successful. Here's to 2026!
 
Books Discussed at Length:
The Xmas Day Butcher - Spencer Guerrero
Wynd: The Secret of the Wings - James Tynion IV
Kaiju No. 8 - Naoya Matsumoto
Dinosaurs Before Dark - Mary Pope Osborne
Brigands and Breadknives - Travis Baldree
Those Across the River - Christopher Buehlman
The Lefthand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain
A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin
 
News:
Felicia - https://lithub.com/the-ultimate-best-books-of-2025-list/ 
Aaron - https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/12/29/beth-macy-the-bestselling-author-of-dopesick-is-running-for-congress-is-she-the-liberal-jd-vance-00703039 
 
Contact:
Email - talkbooky@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkbooky/
Felicia's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10748838-felicia
Aaron's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27722090-aaron 

2025 has been horrible. Let's just say it. It's been horrible. Politics have been horrible, gas prices are horrible, meat prices are horrible, war is horrible...look, it's just been horrible. Regardless, we are here. Join us, Felicia and Aaron, as we hold our annual Talk Booky Awards that require use to debate (loosely) for the books that were not horrible (and were actually AWESOME) and make the tough decision on deciding which of those not horrible books is our favorite of the podcast. We also try to set some realistic goals for next year and comfort each other as we cry our way into the new year. Thank you for joining us, and you can reach us at the outlets below.
 
Contact:
Email - talkbooky@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkbooky/
Felicia's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10748838-felicia
Aaron's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27722090-aaron 

The clock is seriously ticking down on 2025, and we guess all of you are struggling as much as we are to finish any sort of reading goal for the year, but here we are. Join us, Felicia and Aaron, as we discuss our mid-month progress on the December reading crunch. We open with the GoodRead's Choice Awards and the first few days of our personal book exchange. Then, we move on to our reading progress, marked with some new scary stories by old favorite authors and an advent calendar disaster that made one of us (you guess who) wish to be the victim of the titular "Xmas Butcher." Don't worry, it gets better because we recommend some short books to pad your 2025 reading and end with a question about freezing time. Thank you for joining us, and you can reach us at the outlets below!
 
Books Discussed at Length:
Binding 13 - Chloe Walsh
The Xmas Day Butcher - Spencer Guerrero
Such Lovely Skin - Tatiana Schlote-Bonne
Monster Hunter International - Larry Correia
 
News:
Felicia - https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2025 
 
Contact:
Email - talkbooky@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkbooky/
Felicia's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10748838-felicia
Aaron's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27722090-aaron 

Cereal is so good. Captain Crunch, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, French Toast Crunch, Christmas crunch... The last one was made up. Join us, Felicia and Aaron as we kick off December. We start with news, but the book exchange gets out-of-hand as we try give each other books by authors we already know. Then we set a TBR of "catch-up" books (I call them ketchup books, but whatever), cover some family recommendations, and close with a random recommendation. Thank you for listening, and you can reach us at the outlets below. 
 
News:
Felicia - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/the-best-gift-books-of-2025/ 
 
Aaron - https://bookriot.com/most-read-books-on-goodreads-2025/ 
Contact:
Email - talkbooky@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkbooky/
Felicia's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10748838-felicia
Aaron's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27722090-aaron 

Our bellies are full of turkey, and there are enough leftovers to feed a family of seven resting in the fridge as we record this episode, and there's no better way to wrap up the month about families. Join us, Felicia and Aaron, as we round-out November. We open with news about book recommendations from NPR and MPR (yes, those are two organizations - not a typo), share our recent experiences at a few new book stores, and dive into our slim pile of literature since mid-month. The conversation swings wildly between tropey family dramas, complexities of generational trauma, rugby romances, dealing with work-families, and...hold on (checking my notes) a man in heart-patterned boxers with a pet cat named Princess Donut. I'm not sure how that last title ended up here, but believe me - it's one of Felicia's favorites. We dish out superlatives and finish the conversation by looking forward to Christmas. Thank you for listening, and you can reach us at any of the outlets below.
Books Discussed at Length:
Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman
Binding 13 - Chloe Walsh
Troutwatching - Dallas Crow
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood - Rebecca Wells
Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain
 
News:
Felicia - https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#view=covers&year=2024 
Aaron - https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/11/29/ideas-for-the-book-lovers-on-your-gift-list 
 
Contact:
Email - talkbooky@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkbooky/
Felicia's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10748838-felicia
Aaron's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27722090-aaron 

We made it halfway through November which may or may not be great, depending on how the year has been for you. Regardless, the podcast must go on. We, Felicia and Aaron, managed an episode about family during a time when families are loosely defined. This episode has some news about the GoodReads Choice Awards and video games based on novels. We move on to our TBR progress which is covered with YA manga about a world void of magic, expected favorites that we won't mention, and a Ya-Ya story. We end with a spoiler-filled question about book endings, so that may not be best for everyone. Regardless, thank you for listening, and you can find us at the outlets below.
 
Books Discussed at Length:
WYND - James Tynion
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling
Brigands and Breadknives - Travis Baldree
Maine Characters - Hannah Orenstein
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood - Rebecca Wells
 
News: 
Felicia - https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2025?ref=gca_nov_25_gcar1_sa
Aaron - https://gameinformer.com/top-five/2025/09/30/top-five-games-based-on-books 
Contact:
Email - talkbooky@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkbooky/
Felicia's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10748838-felicia
Aaron's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27722090-aaron 

Large meals are around the corner, so we are tightening our belts and prepping our stomachs as we move into November. Join us, Felicia and Aaron, as we set up a new theme about families and exchange some interesting books about different (and somewhat concerning) family dynamics. We start with some news about the horror of America to cap off the scary month and some newly discovered books to, hopefully, branch into some fresh directions. Then, we exchange books, set a TBR that would make our families proud (haha), and end with a question about adapting our favorite books to comics. Thank you for joining us, and you can reach us at the outlets below.
Contact:
Email - talkbooky@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkbooky/
Felicia's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10748838-felicia
Aaron's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27722090-aaron
 
Listener Recommends:
Thank You for Listening - Julia Whelan
The Good, The Bad, and the Aunties - Jesse Suranto
Say You'll Remember Me - Abby Jimenez
The People We Keep - Allison Larkin
 
News:
Felicia - https://electricliterature.com/modern-america-is-a-horror-movie/ 
Aaron - https://community.bookbrowse.com/t/two-newly-discovered-works/2902 

This episode is recorded while ghouls and zombies walk the streets of our suburban neighborhoods, stalking buckets of candy and threatening to vandalize houses if we don't consent. But we must continue. Join us, Felicia and Aaron, as we cover some "fun" book news, review several books about different horrors, dole out superlatives, and end on a question that causes some serious reflection. Thank you for listening, and you can reach us at the outlets below. 
 
Books Discussed at Length:
Zomromcom - Olivia Dade
City of Glass - Cassandra Clare
So Witches We Became - Jill Baguchinsky
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes - Hisashi Kashiwai
The Summer I Ate the Rich - Maika and Maritza Moulite
Academy of Outcasts - Larry Courreia
 
Contact:
Email - talkbooky@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkbooky/
Felicia's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10748838-felicia
Aaron's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27722090-aaron 
 
News:
Felicia - https://bookriot.com/fun-spins-on-classic-creature-horror/ 
Aaron - https://bookriot.com/most-read-books-on-goodreads-october-2025/ 

We finally made it! Join us, Felicia and Aaron, for a bombastic finale to City of Glass. We cover part three and the epilogue in this episode, sifting through all the long-time-coming revelations, explosive fight scenes, emotional reunions, and confusing loose ends. It's been a complicated experience with this book, but we end on a high-note, excited for the rest of the series. Thank you for listening, and you can reach us at the outlets below.
Contact:
Email - talkbooky@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkbooky/
Felicia's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10748838-felicia
Aaron's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27722090-aaron 
 
 

It feels like we received our first ARC, completed another set of spoiler episodes, blinked, and it was suddenly the end of our second year. Join us, Felicia and Aaron, as we reflect on another full year of Talk Booky to Me. This episode is a nice, informal reflection on our second year of themes, favorite books, and overall reading progress. It gives us a nice space to vent and brainstorm some goals for year three. Thank you, sincerely, for hanging out with our little podcast family over the year. We hope we brought you some entertainment, a few laughs, and plenty of book recommendations. We will continue to do so as long as you continue to listen. Here's to another year! 
Contact:
Email - talkbooky@gmail.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkbooky/
Felicia's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10748838-felicia
Aaron's GoodRead's - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27722090-aaron