Bubbles and Books
A podcast about two of the best things in life: books and champagne. Hosted by Ellyn Grimm and Amanda Lepper, co-owners of Dog-Eared Books in Ames, Iowa.
Episodes
As you know Dog-Eared Books is growing! There's lots to do, and we only have so many hours in the day. Because of the crazy schedule, we are going on a brief hiatus until the new year. Until then, we're leaving you with a list of Fall/Winter must-reads you're going to want to put on your TBR. Until then, keep up with all the construction and store news by following us on our socials. And let us know what type of episodes you'd like...
Today's episode of Bubbles & Books is very exciting because we are welcoming author Tara Goedjen to the podcast! Tara leads a very interesting life, has an Iowa connection, and is on to chat all about her upcoming novel, Please Enjoy Your Stay, which comes out October 13th.
Buy your copy of Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen HERE
Follow Tara on Insta: @taragoedjen
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Today we have debut author and fellow bookstore owner Claire Carusillo on Bubbles & Books. The Responsible Party hits shelves this week and it is our DogPack subscription pick and one Amanda and Ellyn's favorite reads so far this year. Listen along and be sure to pick up a copy!
Buy your copy of The Responsible Party by Claire Carusillo HERE
Follow Claire on Insta: @clocarus
Follow Claire's bookstore Storyboard on Insta: @story...
Today, we are getting a reality check! Ellyn is joined by the real Ken Moore, Bookseller Mariah, and her son Holden. They're discussing Dog-Eared's newest book club Reality Check.
Reality Check Book Club reads new release non-fiction across many different sub-genres, from science history to philosophical explorations--not ship wrecks though, that's a different club (coming 2027). If you love non-fiction, or even if you don't ...
Gabbie Hanks, author, former Floridian, and now Iowa transplant, joins Amanda and Ellyn on Today's podcast. They're chatting all about her debut novel Nasty Little Secret, moving to Iowa, how her book became published, and even a little about her next novel.
Order Nasty Little Secret by Gabbie Hanks HERE
Follow Gabbie Hanks on Instagram HERE
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Make sure to s...
It's almost the official dog days of summer, and today we're sharing with you some great reading suggestions to plan out your reading for these long hot days. We’re going to tell you about what’s new and hot this summer, what’s on our reading lists, plus some suggestions for titles that can help you complete our Adult Summer Bingo challenge. And don't miss joining us for the first official podcast buddy read!
Today we are joined by author Tessa Yang whose debut published novel The Jellyfish Problem instantly captivated Ellyn and Amanda. Most you know if it's got a touch of monster and magical realism it's likely to have that special sauce and become a Dog-Eared favorite.
For as long as she can remember, two things have been fundamentally true about Jo Ness: she is fascinated by jellyfish, and she is misunderstood by most people. T...
Emily Jane is not only one of our favorite authors, but also a friend of Dog-Eared Books. Emily has one of the most unique voices in literature, and her delightfully weird and entertaining novels are always instant favorites. We are thrilled to have her back on the podcast chatting about her upcoming novel Mr. Yay. Emily Jane has the Bubbles & Books special sauce, and you're going to want to pick this one up as soon as it's out...
Today we are joined by the incredible Paige Lewis, author of the debut novel Canon. An instant Dog-Eared favorite, Amanda and Ellyn were so excited to choose it as a subscription pick and to have Paige on the podcast.
We are also joined today by Bookseller Mariah who describes Canon as a story with a playfulness that is undeniably modern and a weightier sensibility reminiscent of any classic, Lewis's debut novel was stunning and de...
This week, we’re kicking off a new Bubbles & Books podcast series Book Shop Talk! In this series, we’ll introduce you to the incredible booksellers across the country whom we consider invaluable peers.
For our very first episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Austin, one-third of the badass trio behind Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA. Pocket Books connected with us early in their journey, and since then, they&r...
Today’s special episode celebrates Mother’s Day, as Amanda and Ellyn each welcome their moms to the Bubbles & Books podcast for the very first time. Together, they chat about Amanda and Ellyn’s journey opening Dog-Eared, reflect on parenting, share when their love of reading, and discuss how they passed the reading bug onto their daughters.
MOTHER’S DAY RECS:
These are recs that we feel speak to what it...
Ellery Adams. This one is for you. Today, Ellyn brings back one of our favorite games, Good Books Bad Reviews. She has scoured Goodreads for some of the most outrageous reviews left on some iconic and favorite books. See if you can guess along with Amanda.
Books featured in today's episode aka books we loved and books people wrote bad reviews about.
Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein
Invasive Species by Ellery Adams
The biggest day of the year is coming up and we can't wait! We are celebrating with all of our Central Iowa Indie Bookstore friends and bringing back the Indie Bookstore Day passport! Listen along, and hear about all the fun things we have going on, and from the bookstores participating in the passport.
Order your Readers For Liberty T-shirt HERE
Central Iowa Indie Bookstore Day Passport Stores:
Ellyn has spent many a Bubbles & Books episode talking about one of her favorite reads Invasive Species, and today we are thrilled to have the author Ellery Adams join us! We're all about weird books and monsters, and Invasive Species is right in that wheelhouse. Listen and enjoy and make sure to follow Ellery on Instagram and grab her latest novel Invasive Species today!
Order your copy of Invasive Species HERE
Dear Julia Langbein, we are honored to have you grace us with your presence on the Bubbles & Books podcast. We are not worthy of such greatness, but are incredibly glad to be discussing your new novel Dear Monica Lewinsky. Your masterful storytelling has once again brought a top-tier book to our shelves.
Truly, we are so excited to have one of our favorite authors Julia Langbein back on Bubbles & Books. We first fell ...
Want a chance to win a $1,000 dollar gift card to Dog-Eared Books? Yes. One. Thousand. Dollars.
Download our 2026 Dog-Eared Books Spring Silliness Books Bracket, and submit your picks online by 8 AM on March 19th for a chance to win.
Click HERE to download a bracket and to submit your 2026 Spring Silliness book bracket.
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Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubble...
Today we are heading down memory lane and looking back at the last five years and all the funny moments, best books, and favorite memories we've experienced. As we approach out fifth birthday, we are forever grateful to every person who has supported us. Without you, we couldn't do what we love. Thank you and here's to many more five years of bookselling!
Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Keeper by Tana French
This episode is a lot of laughs and a lot of fun. Mariah and Rachel join Ellyn and Amanda to participate in Ellyn's totally tubular game. The premise of the game? Ellyn has changed one word in the top ten Dog-Eared best-sellers and Amanda, Rachel and Mariah have less than two minutes to write a synopsis of a fictional book based on the new title. Ellyn's judges whose story she would read and whose she wouldn't. It's one of our most...
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