Books I Make My Husband Read

Hop on, because we’re jumping into Whistler by Ann Patchett — a novel about a woman who reunites with her stepfather more than forty years after a car crash severed their family. We get into the two timelines, the love that doesn't fit a category, what the horse Whistler means, and the moment a mother finally tells the true thing instead of the easier one.

Links

• Whistler on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/s...

Episode four sinks into Kin by Tayari Jones — a historical novel about mothers and daughters, about friendship and sisterhood, and the complexities of being a woman in the American South. We get into the distinct voices Jones gives each woman, the historical weight of the setting, what it means to choose your kin, and whether the ending delivered on everything the book was building toward.

Links

• Kin on Goodreads: (https://w...

Next up in season five is The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff — a story about a marriage in freefall after a house fire forces them to move in with their parents. We get into the asymmetry of guilt between April and Leo, Deb’s quietly devastating storyline, the lines that stopped us mid-read, and whether the ending was earned.

Links

• Official author website: (https://www.sarahdamoff.com/)
• The Burning Side on Goodreads: (ht...

Episode 2 analyzes Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy — a haunting, atmospheric novel set on a remote island near Antarctica. We get into the mystery of Rowan’s arrival, the quiet devastation of the Salt family’s situation, the climate grief baked into the world of the book, and whether the ending is brilliant or heartbreaking — or both.

Links

• Official author website: (https://www.charlottemcconaghy.co...

We’re kicking off Season Five with The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez — a companion novel to Say You’ll Remember Me set in the same world. We get into the wrong-person trope, the slow build between Chris and Larissa, what loyalty and timing do to two people who are trying to do the right thing, and whether the pacing of the resolution worked for us.

Links

• Official author website: (https://www.authorabbyjimenez.com...

We’re recapping season four—breaking down the books we read, the films we watched, and the moments that surprised us most along the way. From unexpected favorites to heated takes, we’re looking back at what stuck with us (and what definitely didn’t).

Chapters

• (00:00) - - Intro
• (02:09) - - The one with such diversity
• (03:21) - - The one that hit hardest
• (08:21) - - The one that'll get more husbands t...

For our season finale, we discuss Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Join us as we dive into Ryland Grace’s journey, the science that makes the story so compelling, and the unexpected emotional core of the book. We also compare the novel to the film adaptation and discuss whether the movie captured the humor, heart, and friendship that made the story so memorable.

Links

• Official author website: (https://andyweirauthor.com/)&nb...

In this episode, we discuss Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Specifically, Kya’s journey of survival and isolation, the novel’s exploration of loneliness and belonging, and how the story translates from page to screen in the film adaptation.

Links

• Official author website: (https://www.deliaowens.com/)
• Where the Crawdads Sing: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36809135-where-the-crawdads-sing) 
• Delia Owens...

For episode five, Kristy throws Jon a classic, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. And as a bonus this season, we'll also be discussing the 2013 film adaptation. We explore the novel’s themes of wealth, ambition, and the American Dream, talk through its major symbols, and compare how the story translates from page to screen.

Links

• The Great Gatsby on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41733839-the-great-ga...

In episode four, we analyze Regretting You by Colleen Hoover — discussing both the book and its film adaptation. We talk about the mother-daughter dynamic at the heart of the story, the twists that reshape everything, and how the themes of grief, secrets, and second chances land differently on the page versus on screen. We also get into what worked for us, what didn’t, and whether the adaptation captured the emotional c...

In this episode, we’re talking People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry — the book and its film adaptation. We get into the friends-to-lovers slow burn, the years of miscommunication, and how nostalgia and timing shape Poppy and Alex’s relationship. We also debate whether this story works better on the page or on screen and how the adaptation handles the emotional buildup.

Links

• Official author website: (https:...

In this episode, we sift through a classic: Stephen King’s Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption—yes that movie. We talk about what makes this story so enduring, the unforgettable characters, and what it means to stay human in a place designed to break you.

Links

• Official author website: (https://stephenking.com/)
• Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39664.Rita_Hayworth_and_Shaw...

Kicking off season four is The Housemaid — and its brand-new film adaptation. We revisit Millie’s tense, twisted experience working inside the Winchesters’ home before unpacking how the movie brings that psychological tension to the screen. We compare what worked (and what didn’t), talk casting and those jaw-dropping twists, and debate whether the book or the film tells this story best.

Links

• Official auth...

A full season of reading, chaos, arguments, hot takes, and two author interviews—all wrapped in one recap episode. We’re looking back, calling ourselves out, and gearing up for Season Four.

Chapters

• (02:27) - Favorite book of the season
• (04:39) - Least favorite book
• (06:05) - Most unexpected
• (07:55) - Favorite characters
• (10:51) - Who'd you actively avoid?
• (13:07) - The one Jon secretly liked more than he admi...

In this episode, we dive into My Friends by Fredrik Backman—a deeply human story about connection and the messy devotion that holds friendships together. We talk about friendships as a lifeline, the way humor softens heartbreak, and why these characters feel so lived-in. Listen for the themes that hit hardest and if we recommend adding this to your TBR.

Links

• My Friends:(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217163697-my-frie...

In this episode, we dissect The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood—the STEM rom-com packed with fake dating and grumpy/sunshine chemistry. We talk about what felt rom-com convenient, power dynamics inside academia, and whether the resolution sticks the landing—professionally and romantically. Join us for our favorite laugh-out-loud moments!

Links

• Official author website: (https://alihazelwood.com/)
• The Love Hypothesis: (...

In this episode, author Paige Harbison joins us to unpack The Other Side of Now—a grief-tinged “what if” that drops a woman into an alternate version of her life. We talk about how loss reshapes identity, the fault lines in friendships when reality shifts, and why the book’s timeline jump works without leaning heavy into sci-fi.

Links

• Official author website: (https://www.paigeharbison.com/)
• The Other Side ...

For this episode, Kristy made Jon read Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson—a thriller where a 27-year-old, given one week to live after a Halloween attack, decides to investigate her own impending murder. We talk about the impending tension and who to trust when everyone’s a suspect. Listen for our takes on character choices, twists, and whether the premise sticks the landing.

Links

• Not Quite Dead Yet (https://www.goo...

In this episode, we discuss Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri, joined by the author herself. It’s a powerful story of motherhood, identity, and the phantom life that lingers in the background. We unpack the choices, struggles, and regrets that make Leah O’Connor’s journey unforgettable.

Links

• Official author website: (https://www.jessicaguerrieri.net/) 
• Book on Goodreads: (https://...