Bubbles and Books

Ellyn’s daughter Jay is in the hot seat this week—and it’s all about her serious lack of reading. To fix the situation, Ellyn went straight to Dog-Eared Books booksellers and came back with a mission (and a bag full of recommendations). Now, Jay’s been officially challenged to a summer of reading. Will she rise to the occasion or fake her way through the pages? Tune in to find out what’s on her reading list and how she really feels...

Today's episode is all about these two bitches talking about their bitchmance. Inspired by Dolls on the Brain, Amanda and Ellyn go through all the types of bitchmancery in the bitchdom and real and fictional bitchmances they admire. 

Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Perry Pickers by Amanda Peters & Indian Country by Shobha Rao

Amanda's Currently Reading | Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson & My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Today, Ellyn is joined by Dog-Eared's Roxy Strike and Nick Narigon—writer, indie press founder, and former Iowa County resident. They chat about everything from favorite ‘90s angst anthems to what it’s really like starting a small press. It’s a fun, honest conversation full of hometown memories and creative inspiration. Be sure to check out Nick’s Hayseed Press to see what he’s been working on!

Nick who is joining us from Singapore...

On this week’s Bubbles & Books, Ellyn and Amanda are joined by bestselling author Jess Walter to talk about his upcoming novel So Far Gone.

Expect laughs, insights, and thoughtful discussion as Jess shares how this novel took shape, what it says about the world today, and why he chose to leave social media. And we're so excited to share that Jess will be coming to Dog-Eared Books for a Cocktails & Convos event on Friday, Se...

We are heading into summer and all the reading lists are coming out. Some are thoughtfully curated, and others… sloppily slapped together by AI. But today, we present you with an “AE” (Amanda & Ellyn) generated summer reading list—and trust us, it's way better than whatever the bots cooked up. Whether you're into breezy rom-coms, twisty thrillers, or something a little more unexpected, they've got you covered.

Check out the Boo...

We are excited to welcome Dog-Eared Books' best-selling author to the Bubbles & Books podcast! Amanda & Ellyn have popped the bubbles and are chatting all about Kristen's adult cozy mystery How to Solve Your Own Murder and its sequel How to Seal Your Own Fate.

Her books are full of twisty plots and eclectic characters, and she's sharing how she crafts a mystery that's both page-turning and comforting. We chat about the appe...

In today's episode Amanda & Ellyn are breaking down the data from Indie Bookstore Day and giving you the best-sellers, how many passports we gave out, and special anecdotes we noticed throughout the day. Thank you to our listeners who came out to Dog-Eared Books and those who also participated in the Central Iowa Indie Bookstore Day passport. And especially to those who said "Chambong me b*tch." We love you.

As hear on the podc...

We put it out there and asked everyone who follows us on social media to ask us anything. From bookish to random, Ellyn and Amanda are sharing everything.

This Saturday, April 26, 2025 spend your day visiting Indie Bookstores for Indie Bookstore Day! The Central Iowa Indie Bookstores have brought back the passport challenge. Visit all the indies in two days to win a grand prize!

What we're drinking | Cocktails from Della Viti

Ellyn...

Ellyn has a game for Amanda & Rachel... and they're not very good at it. This episode is a fun one of chatting current reads and testing our bookish knowledge.

Get tickets for Kevin Wilson at Dog-Eared Books HERE

What we're drinking | Cocktails from Della Viti

Ellyn's Currently Reading | Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart & Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

Amanda's Currently Reading | Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily ...

It's a very exciting episode, because Amanda and Ellyn are joined by fellow indie bookstore owner Abbey Paxton. Abbey owns Storyhouse Bookpub, located in the East Village of Des Moines. Today Amanda, Ellyn, and Abbey chat about the indie bookstore industry, the good and bad parts of owning a indie bookstore, and the exciting things we have coming up for Indie Bookstore Day 2025. 

Mark you calendars for the last weekend in April bec...

If you listen to Bubbles & Books, you should know how excited we are about today's guest's upcoming book, "Sky Daddy." Iowa Native Kate Folk joins us to chat about how she came up with the genius novel about a woman who is attracted to planes and hopes to one day be wed to an actual plane in a very tragic way.

What may seem like a ridiculous and hilarious novel is a beautiful one about friendship and what it means to be human. ...

We have indie bookstore supporter, our friend, and Dog-Eared best-selling author Denise Williams on today's episode of Bubbles & Books. She joins Ellyn and Amanda to chat all about her upcoming book Just Our Luck, the romance genre, and donuts (duh.) Denise has published nine novels including Technically Yours and her debut novel How to Fail at Flirting which just so happens to be the first book to ever grace the shelves of Dog...

We have THE Nicole Cuffy on today's episode. Her upcoming novel O Sinners!, our March 18, 2025 needs to be on your TBR asap. In O Sinners! a young journalist, reeling from loss, investigates a mysterious cult in the California redwoods, only to be drawn in by its charismatic leader—an addictive novel that asks why people give up control and what it takes, ultimately, to find your place in the world.

Cuffy is the author of Dances, l...

Amanda & Ellyn are yapping. And as much as they like to think they're in the know with the youths, they sometimes are a little behind on the times. Hence, teaching them all about yapping. Rachel gave them a list of different topics and yap they did.

Ellyn's Currently Reading | American Mythology by Gino Cromely

Amanda's Currently Reading |  The Favorites by Layne Fargo 

Books coming out this week | Deep End by Ali Hazelwood &...

What is happening in our country feels very scary and very dark. But if there's one thing Timothy Snyder taught us, it's "Don't obey in advance." We hope today's episode can offer you a bright moment in these chaotic times. 

Books on authoritarian governments |

Autocracy, Inc by Anne Applebaum

The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Ad...

Emily Jane author of On Earth As It Is On Television and soon-to-be-released novel Here Beside the Rising Tide, out January 28, joins Amanda and Ellyn on today's Bubbles & Books episode. After reading her first published novel in 2023, and choosing it for the Dog Pack subscription, Amanda & Ellyn knew anything Emily Jane wrote next would deliver. AND. IT. DID. Listen to learn more about Jane's writing, plus you won't want t...

Get your notes app ready because you're going to want to write down the books we're excited for for the first half of 2025. Amanda & Ellyn are breaking down all of the big hitters to be on the lookout for in publishing.  Listen and tell us what you're looking forward to!

Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

Amanda's Currently Reading | Private Rites by Julia Armfield

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We're back baby, it's 2025, and we're coming at you with an episode all about what we're taking into 2025 with us and what we're leaving behind in 2024. Vision boards were even made with glue sticks, cutouts, and digital scrapbooking. Amanda & Ellyn are excited to share what they're hoping the new year brings.

What we're drinking |  Piattelli Vineyard Methode Champenoise

Ellyn's Currently Reading | Havoc by Christopher Bollen, ...

RECEIPTS👏PROOF👏TIMELINE👏SCREENSHOTS👏EVERYTHING!

It's the end of the year and we're looking back at the data from 2024. We're sharing our most popular genres, what book we sold the most, and the surprising item that beat everything! We love breaking down the past year to discuss the surprises and expectations of a year at Dog-Eared Books. 

We'll be back in the new year, see you then!

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