Literally Books

...Literally The Little Prince

This week, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince” schools Magda and Lindsay in some extremely important life lessons, most importantly, that being an adult is so overrated. 
In honor of the book, they discuss all the essential things they felt with their hearts while reading this absolute classic. 
 
Books mentioned in the episode:
“The Little Prince“ by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“The Girls Who Grew Big“ by Leila Mottley
“Half His Age“ by Jeanette McCurdy 
“The Ending Writes Itself“ by Evelyn Clarke
“The Little Prince“ by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“James and the Giant Peach“ by Roald Dahl
 
“Parable of the Sower“ by Octavia Butler
“The House in the Cerulean Sea“ by TJ Klune
“Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About“ by Isabel Klee
“Project Hail Mary“ by Andy Weir
 
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Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread
 
#childrensbooks #thelittleprince #selfhelpbooks #bookpodcast 

...Literally The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

A horror writer, YA writer, romance writer, sci-fi writer, mystery writer, and a team of thriller writers walk into a secluded Scottish mansion…
This is the setup for this week’s deep dive, Evelyn Clarke’s “The Ending Writes Itself.” 
Listen in as Magda and Lindsay discuss this mystery tale wrapped in a treatise on the publishing industry with a dash of commentary on genre stereotypes. 
 
Books mentioned in the episode: 
“The Ending Writes Itself“ by Evelyn Clarke
“Huntsman“ by Naima Simone
“Ember“ by Naima Simone
“West of Wicked“ by Nikki St. Crowe
“Big Girl Blitz“ by Danielle Allen
“First and Forever“ by Lynn Painter
“The Prospects“ by KT Hoffman
“Crash Course“ by Piper Lawson
“On Thin Ice“ by Olivia Belle
“Divergent“ by Veronica Roth
“Dungeon Crawler Carl“ by Matt Dinniman
“Legendborn“ by Tracy Deonn
 
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Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread
 
#mysteryreads #bookpodcast #bookrecommendations #veschwab #publishingindustrytalk

...Literally 100th Episode EXTRAVAGANZA!!!!

ONE. HUNDRED. EPISODES!!!!!!
Literally Books has officially reached its hundredth episode, so Magda and Lindsay spend this episode freaking out, crying, and wallowing in nostalgia and gratitude. 
Listen in as they take listener questions, provide rapid-fire books recs (how many books CAN they recommend in 50 seconds?), revel in some of their favorite memories, and manifest what they want for the next 100 episodes. 
LASTLY,  THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!
 
Books mentioned in the episode: 
“Reel“ by Kennedy Ryan
“Score“ by Kennedy Ryan
“The Knockout Queen“ by Rufi Thorpe
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone“ by J.K. Rowling
“El Renacuajo Paseador“ by Rafael Pombo
“James and the Giant Peach“ by Roald Dahl
“The Correspondent“ by Virginia Evans
“Legendborn“ by Tracy Deonn
“People We Meet on Vacation“ by Emily Henry
“Project Hail Mary“ by Andy Weir
“The Shadow of the Wind“ by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer“ by Mark Twain
“The Lord of the Rings“ by J.R.R. Tolkien
“Wuthering Heights“ by Emily Brontë
“Bullet in the Brain“ by Tobias Wolff
“The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay“ by Michael Chabon
“This Could Be Us“ by Kennedy Ryan
“Station Eleven“ by Emily St. John Mandel
“An Untamed State“ by Roxane Gay
“Saga“ by Brian K. Vaughan
“All the Women in My Brain“ by Betty Gilpin
“The Poppy War“ by R.F. Kuang
“I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This“ by Chelsea Devantez
“All Systems Red“ by Martha Wells
“Bull Moon Rising“ by Ruby Dixon
“Alias Emma“ by Ava Glass
“Deep End“ by Ali Hazelwood
“Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert“ by Bob the Drag Queen
“My Lady Jane“ by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows
“Clytemnestra“ by Costanza Casati
“Mickey7“ by Edward Ashton
“Butcher and Blackbird“ by Brynne Weaver
“I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This“ by Chelsea Devantez
“Lady Tan’s Circle of Women“ by Lisa See
“Nice Work,  Nora November“ by Julia London
“Everything is Probably Fine“ by Julia London
“Legendborn“ by Tracy Deonn
“They Both Die at the End“ by Adam Silvera
“The Trouble with Love and Ink“ by Harriet Ashford
“The Trouble with Love and Coaches“ by Harriet Ashford
 
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Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread

...Literally BookCon 2026!

BookCon! BookCon! BookCon!
’Tis the season for 35,000 of the country’s biggest introverts to converge together in NYC and talk about books. Magda and Lindsay discuss their favorite panels, their experience moderating author talks, and their favorite moments from this year’s BookCon, after its 6-year hiatus. 
 
Books mentioned in the episode:
“West of Wicked“ by Nikki St. Crowe
“Big Girl Blitz“ by Danielle Allen
“Huntsmen“ by Naima Simone
“Ember“ by Naima Simone
“First and Forever“ by Lynn Painter
“The Prospects“ by KT Hoffman
“On Thin Ice“ by Olivia Belle
“Crash Course“ by Piper Lawson
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles“ by Rufi Thorpe
“The A.I. Who Loved Me“ by Alyssa Cole
“The Hunting Wives“ by May Cobb
“Project Hail Mary“ by Andy Weird
“Station Eleven“ by Emily St. John Mandel
“The Idea of You“ by Robinne Lee
 
 
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Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread

...Literally How to Build a Capsule Bookshelf

Now while Magda and Lindsay may be literary hoarders in all forms— digital, physical, audible— they understand (kind of) that not everyone may want heaps and piles of books. So in the spirit of cultivation, they’re pulling together their personal capsule bookshelf. 
They’ll each recommend five books that will scratch whatever reading itch you may be having. 
*Please note, while your hosts did their best to cull the very best titles, these are subject to change at any moment because people can GROW and CHANGE, okay? Now, onto the show. 
 
Books mentioned in the episode: 
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles“ by Rufi Thorpe
“Right by My Side“ by David Haynes
“Catcher in the Rye“ by J.D. Salinger
“Finlay Donovan is Killing It“ by Elle Cosimano
"Where’d You Go, Bernadette" by Maria Semple
“The Favorites“ by Layne Fargo
“Frankenstein“ by Mary Shelley
“Wuthering Heights“ by Emily Brontë
“The Count of Monte Cristo“ by Alexandre Dumas
“Adult Braces“ by Lindy West
“Shrill“ by Lindy West
“His Dark Materials“ by Phillip Pullman
“Pride and Prejudice“ by Jane Austen
“The People’s History of the Unites States“ by Howard Zinn
“I Who Have Never Known Men“ by Jacqueline Harpman
“Cat’s Cradle“ by Kurt Vonnegut
“Slaughterhouse-Five“ by Kurt Vonnegut
“The Correspondent“ by Virginia Evans
“Jane Eyre“ by Charlotte Brontë
“First Lie Wins“ by Ashley Elston
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles“ by Rufi Thorpe
“Twlight“ by Stephenie Meyer
 
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Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread

...Literally Bonus Episode!! Interview with Rufi Thorpe, author of "Margo's Got Money Troubles".

This week, Magda and Lindsay have the absolute pleasure of talking to Rufi Thorpe, champion of misfits, believer in forgiveness, and, of course, author of "Margo's Got Money Troubles," among others.
Listen in as she discusses her writing process, motherhood, professional wrestling, and the upcoming adaptation of her book.
Books mentioned in the episode:
"Margo's Got Money Troubles" by Rufi Thorpe
"Black Beauty" by Anna Sewell
 
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Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread

...Literally Bridgerton Ranking: Books and Series

Dearest gentle reader, or maybe not reader? Maybe just watcher?  Whoever you are, if you’re into Bridgerton, you’ve come to the right place. 
Magda and Lindsay review their definitive (until the next season is released, at least) rankings of each Bridgerton series, and then Magda gives a full rundown of which books to check out and which to skip. 
Join us for this Regency era rager! 
 
Books mentioned in the episode: 
“Reel“ by Kennedy Ryan
“This Could Be Us“ by Kennedy Ryan
“Can’t Get Enough“ by Kennedy Ryan
“Before I Let Go“ by Kennedy Ryan
“We Are Legion“ by Dennis E. Taylor
“The Games Gods Play“ by Abigail Owen
“Shy Girl“ by Mia Ballard
“The Housemaid“ by Freida McFadden
“The Housemaid’s Secret“ by Freida McFadden
“The Lord of the Rings“ by J.R.R. Tolkien
“The Unofficial Twilight Cookbook“ by Kayla Ruhland
“Romancing Mister Bridgerton“ by Julia Quinn
“On the Way to the Wedding“ by Julia Quinn
“To Sir Phillip, With Love“ by Julia Quinn
“The Duke and I“ by Julia Quinn
“An Offer From a Gentleman“ by Julia Quinn
“It’s in His Kiss“ by Julia Quinn
“The Viscount Who Loved Me“ by Julia Quinn
“When He Was Wicked“ by Julia Quinn
 
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Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread

BONUS EPISODE! ...Literally Austin Book Trail 2026

Magda and Lindsay have yet another love letter for their local bookstores. They recap this year's Austin Book Trail and all the great new stores they got to visit, each with its own vibe and special ambiance to offer.
Special thanks to:
Lioness Books
Adventures in Ink
The Secret Lantern
Finney's Books
 
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Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread

...Literally April Showers: Books That Will Make You Cry

Sometimes you just need to feel something!
This week, Magda and Lindsay bring you their five best recommendations for books that will make you cry and cleanse your soul. Listen in for stories that will crack open even the hardest of hearts. 
Don’t worry, no one’s looking. Let those April showers of teardrops rain down. 
 
Books mentioned in the episode:
“And Now, Back to You“ by B.K. Borison
“First-Time Caller“ by B.K. Borison
“Good Spirits“ by B.K. Borison
“Lincoln in the Bardo“ by George Saunders
“The Midnight Library“ by Matt Haig
“The Midnight Train“ by Matt Haig
“Kindred“ by Octavia Butler
“Pride and Prejudice“ by Jane Austen
“Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow“ by Gabrielle Zevin
“The Jungle Book“ by Rudyard Kipling
“They Both Die at the End“ by Adam Silvera
“The First to Die at the End“ by Adam Silvera
“The Survivor Wants to Die at the End“ by Adam Silvera
“We Have Reached the End of Our Show“ by Ali Gordon
“The Nightingale“ by Kristin Hannah
“Mama Day“ by Gloria Naylor
“Crying in H Mart“ by Michelle Zauner
“The Little Prince“ by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“Frankenstein“ by Mary Shelley
 
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Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread

...Literally Frankenstein and Recent Adaptations

He’s a monster!! And by that, we mean Victor Frankenstein, not his creation. 
Listen this week as Magda and Lindsay break down Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and its enduring legacy. They also delve into recent adaptations by Guillermo del Toro and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride.” 
 
Books mentioned in the episode:
“Hamnet“ by Maggie O’Farrell
“Crying in H Mart“ by Michelle Zauner
“Frankenstein“ by Mary Shelley
“First-Time Caller“ by B.K. Borison
“The Bell Jar“ by Sylvia Plath
“Judy Blume: A Life“ by Mark Oppenheimer
 
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Intro & Outro Song: "Would it Kill You," courtesy of The Solder Thread