Lisa discusses her five most favorite and least favorite books that she read in  2023. Not all of these books were written in 2023.  Books Discussed:Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candace MillardThe Swimmers by Julie Otsuka Crying in H Mart by Michelle ZaunerHey Kiddo: A Memoir by Jarrett J. Krosoczka Last Night in Twisted River by John IrvingShark Heart: A Love Story by Emily HabeckThe Last House on Needless Street by Catriona WardStoner by John Williams The Unhoneymooners by Christina LaurenTime Traveler's Wife by Audrey NiffeneggerHow Green Was My Valley by Richard  LlewellynOne Italian Summer by Rebecca SerleThe Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller 

Lisa discusses some of the most anticipated books for 2024. She highlights books written by extremely popular authors such as Matt Haig, Emily Henry and Kristin Hannah.   Books Discussed:  The Life Impossible by Matt HaigJames by Percival Everett out in May 2024Funny Story by Emily HenrySomewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. KluneMartyr! By Kaveh AkbarCome and Get It by Kiley ReidThe Women by Kristin HannahThe Book of Love by Kelly Link Black Cat and White Dog Search for the Meaning of Life: A Children's Fable by Kelly LinkHouse of Hidden Meanings: A Memoir by RuPaulThe Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History  For more information, find Lisa on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and her website. *The book titles mentioned include affiliate links. You can support the podcast by purchasing a book with the links because the podcast receives compensation. 

Lisa discusses her reading in 2023 and ways you can evaluate your success other than just hitting a certain number of books.  Books discussed: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Bit Flip by Mike TriggMonique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway Falling for You: A Buckeye Falls Novel and Falling Home: A Buckeye Falls Novel.  The Measure by Nikki Erlick The Shining by Stephen King. Stoner by John WilliamsHey Kiddo: A Memoir by Jarrett J. Krosoczka Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro ArikawaHatchet Girls by Diana Rodriguez WallachThe Cider House Rules by John IrvingLast Night in Twisted RiverShark Heart: A Love StoryADELAIDE by Genevieve Wheeler   For more information, find Lisa on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and her website. *The book titles mentioned include affiliate links. You can support the podcast by purchasing a book with the links because the podcast receives compensation. 

 Lisa and romance author Libby Kay discuss Libby’s book series, the Buckeye Falls novels. She’s written four so far and is working on the fifth one. You can find all of the books on her website, but books in that series include Falling for You: A Buckeye Falls Novel and Falling Home: A Buckeye Falls Novel.  You can find more information about her writing and novels on Instagram and Facebook. She also is a co-host of a romance podcast, which you can listen to or watch on their You Tube channel.  Books Discussed: A Virgin River Christmas: A Holiday Romance Novel Almost Perfect part of the Fools Gold series by Susan Mallery Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala, part of the Blessings Georgia seriesFor more information, find Lisa on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and her website.*The book titles mentioned include affiliate links. You can support the podcast by purchasing a book with the links because the podcast receives a small commission.

Lisa and author Libby Kay discuss Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. This was a humorous holiday book released in 2001 and turned into a popular movie by the name of Christmas with the Cranks. Libby has written the Buckeye Falls novels, including Falling for You: A Buckeye Falls Novel and Falling Home: A Buckeye Falls Novel.  You can find more information about her writing and novels on her website, Instagram and Facebook. Books Discussed: The White Christmas Inn by Colleen WrightLetters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien

Lisa and author Genevieve Wheeler discuss the 1984 by George Orwell. They discuss the book in depth including a number of topics such as the forbidden affair in the book. The book was written more than 70 years ago, but it discusses how a number of the issues addressed are still essential today.  They also discuss Genevieve’s book ADELAIDE, which was published this year by St. Martin’s Press. You can find Genevieve on Instagram and her website. Books discussed:  Orwell Diaries by George Orwell Down and Out in Paris and London & The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell The Giver by Lois LowryBrave New World by Aldous Huxley Legend by Marie LuFor more information, find Lisa on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and her website.*The book titles mentioned include affiliate links. You can support the podcast by purchasing a book with the links because the podcast receives a small commission.

 Lisa discussed her five favorite audiobooks that she listened to this year and a number of her favorite audio books.  Books discussed:  Hey Kiddo: A Memoir by Jarrett J. Krosoczka  Spare by Prince Harry Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain  Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger  Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Lisa discusses three popular books that, in the fall of 2023, have been released on the screen – either as a movie or a limited series. She discusses Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. Lisa delves into each movie and how it compares to the book. Time Magazine says the limited series of All The Light We Cannot See is a simplistic version of the book. The Daily Beast calls Mark Ruffalo’s accent abominable. Lisa and Kirsten Plonner discussed All the Light We Cannot See on this episode and Kirsten didn’t like the way the book ended. Still, the limited series has an entirely different ending, which Lisa discusses in today’s episode.  Lessons in Chemistry is available on Apple TV and a new episode drops on Fridays. Lisa discussed Lessons in Chemistry on an episode of the podcast here. In Lessons in Chemistry, there were some dramatic changes from characters form the book to the show. For instance, one character Harriet was an aging housewife, but in the limited series, they change her to a young African American attorney. Vulture Magazine says that the show introduces a marginalized character and marginalizes her story.  Killers of the Flower Moon is now on the big screen and there is some debate about the age of the actors and this article delves into that topic.  CNN discusses the length of the movie. For more information, find Lisa on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and her website. *The book titles mentioned include affiliate links. You can support the podcast by purchasing a book with the links because the podcast receives a small commission. 

Lisa and Megan Samarin, the co-host of the podcasts Girls Gone Hallmark and Approved with Megan and Wendy discuss The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren, (a combined pen name) of Christina Hobbs and Laura Billings. They write a number of fiction and romance novels.  The Unhoneymooners is set up as an enemies-to-lovers trope. Megan and Lisa discuss their thoughts on the book and Megan shared other Christina Lauren books that she enjoyed more. You can also find Megan on her Girls Gone Hallmark Instagram or via Megan and Wendy on Instagram. Their website also contains their links here.Books discussed:  Roomies by Christina Lauren The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren Georgie, All Along: An Uplifting and Unforgettable Love Story by Kate Clayborn Love Lettering: A Witty and Heartfelt Love Story by Kate ClaybornPlaying with Matches: A Lit Lovers Romantic Comedy by Ciara Blume  A Lit Lovers Series by Ciara Blume Ties that Tether by Jane Igharo Nora Goes off Script by Annabel Monaghan For more information, find Lisa on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and her website. *The book titles mentioned include affiliate links. You can support the podcast by purchasing a book with the links because the podcast receives a small commission. 

Lisa discusses five celebrity memoirs she’d like to read – all three memoirs have been released this year, and have created a massive buzz. It’s possible she’ll discuss one of these books in-depth in the coming weeks.  The Woman in Me by Britney Spears. She didn’t give any face-to-face interviews about this book, and New York Times writes about how it’s quite unique that she didn’t give any interviews. It’s already reached No. 1 on the New York Times’s Bestseller’s List.  This article, article written by a longtime fan, who thought she knew everything about Spears, says she still learned a lot from the book.  Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar Dillard. She was on the TV show Eighteen Kids and Counting and she shares the problems of being in a strict religious environment and being raised on reality TV. People Magazine wrote about some of the bombshells from her book.  Love, Pamela: A Memoir of Prose, Poetry, and Truth by Pamela Anderson. Vanity Fair says the book has passages in verse as well, which is quite unique.  PageBoy by Elliot Page. Page was in the popular movie Juno and discusses coming out as gay and also delves into gender dysphoria.The actor shares fears and obstacles to gender transition.  Being Henry...the Fonz and Beyond by Henry Winkler. He shares his childhood and also his immense struggle with dyslexia. Here’s an article which delves into the conflict between Winkler and Tom Hanks. The pair were both part of Turner and Hooch, but Winkler says he was fired early into the filming of the movie. For more information, find Lisa on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and her website. *The book titles mentioned include affiliate links. You can support the podcast by purchasing a book with the links because the podcast receives a small commission.