I was fortunate enough to sit down with journalist and author Rachel McRady. Over the course of two hours, we discussed her debut novel, Sunseekers, her globe-spanning journalism career, and the personal life that shaped and was shaped by both. It was amazing to talk through all the heavy themes within Sunseekers and how they relate back into our real, every day life.

Sit down and join us as we discuss interviewing celebrities, yearning for the nostalgia of the 90's, and the juxtaposition between grief and hope found in the characters and scenarios of her novel. At the root of it all is how we can make every day count.

Like, Comment, Subscribe | New episodes every week

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Connect with Rachel:

• Connect on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rachelmcrady/
• Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelmcradywrites
• Website: https://www.rachelmcrady.com/
• X: https://x.com/rachelmcrady
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Rachel-McRady-Author/100091534786172/

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Connect with the Podcast:

• Connect on IG: https://www.instagram.com/booklove_podcast/
• Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@book.love.podcast
• Email the Show: BookClubByBecca@gmail.com
• Email Matt from Ohio: BookishOhioMat@gmail.com

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Author Interviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUbby2KW2XvfXXKrG6X4UWTnyU0S7s6NI&si=p5nIiLf55GxPjgE0

Spoiler-Free Book Reviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUbby2KW2XvfSpfBBfAfxynAgLTcNvnAT&si=TUqkQ3bv7pQJtyb6

Spoiler Filled Book Reviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUbby2KW2Xve832drS0lPw_coM67FyWC5&si=euj8-tBou3s5FhV7

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• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:39 - Rachel McRady Intro
• 04:55 - About Sunseekers
• 08:15 - Family & Relationship Dynamics
• 15:00 - The Power of Self-Talk
• 24:00 - The Sunseekers Audience
• 26:00 - The Impetus of the Novel
• 32:35 - Comparing Sunseekers to Pop Culture
• 34:50 - Stream of Consciousness (Gracie)
• 44:45 - Where 'Matt from Ohio' Came From
• 46:50 - A Child Reuniting the Family
• 48:12 - Characters: Protagonists vs Antagonists
• 57:53 - The Existential Themes in Sunseekers
• 01:15:30 - Intro to Rachel as a Journalist
• 01:16:25 - Becoming a Journalist then a Novelist
• 01:33:00 - Rachel's Favorite Things
• 01:44:20 - Aging and Self-Perception
• 01:52:00 - The Meaning of Life and Making Every Day Count
• 02:00:35 - Big John & Fishing Memories
• 02:03:50 - Sunseekers Wrap-Up
• 02:04:10 - Rachel's Upcoming Projects
• 02:07:50 - Following Rachel McRady
• 02:09:20 - The Stories We Tell Ourselves to Live
• 02:11:05 - Outro

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#authorinterview #bookpodcast #writingprocess #existentialism #contemporaryfiction #racelmcrady #sunseekers #thebooklovepodcast

We unpack the difference between romance, fantasy, and the rapidly growing world of romantasy. We talk about how book marketing, social media, and reader expectations have reshaped the romantic fantasy genre — from epic quests to smut, and everything in between. With Valentine’s Day as the backdrop, we explore what truly defines romantic fantasy, why the label is inconsistent, and where the genre might be headed next. If you’re navigating your TBR and wondering what counts as romance versus fantasy, this book talk is for you.

Like, Comment, Subscribe | New episodes every week

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Connect with the Podcast:

• Connect on IG: https://www.instagram.com/booklove_podcast/
• Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@book.love.podcast
• Email the Show: BookClubByBecca@gmail.com
• Email Matt from Ohio: BookishOhioMat@gmail.com

------------------------------------------

Author Interviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUbby2KW2XvfXXKrG6X4UWTnyU0S7s6NI&si=p5nIiLf55GxPjgE0

Spoiler-Free Book Reviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUbby2KW2XvfSpfBBfAfxynAgLTcNvnAT&si=TUqkQ3bv7pQJtyb6

Spoiler Filled Book Reviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUbby2KW2Xve832drS0lPw_coM67FyWC5&si=euj8-tBou3s5FhV7

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#romantasy #romancebooks #fantasybooks #bookdiscussion #bookpodcast #readingcommunity #booktalk

We put three Audrey Ingram novels — The Summer We Ran, The Group Trip, and The River Runs South — to the ultimate TBR test. We break down the romance-adjacent themes, character development, friendship dynamics, and emotional depth of each book to decide whether they’re instant adds or hard passes. See what Becca decides and let us know if you agree!

Like, Comment, Subscribe | New episodes every week

------------------------------------------

Connect with the Podcast:

• Connect on IG: https://www.instagram.com/booklove_podcast/
• Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@book.love.podcast
• Email the Show: BookClubByBecca@gmail.com
• Email Matt from Ohio: BookishOhioMat@gmail.com

------------------------------------------

Author Interviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUbby2KW2XvfXXKrG6X4UWTnyU0S7s6NI&si=p5nIiLf55GxPjgE0

Spoiler-Free Book Reviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUbby2KW2XvfSpfBBfAfxynAgLTcNvnAT&si=TUqkQ3bv7pQJtyb6

Spoiler Filled Book Reviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUbby2KW2Xve832drS0lPw_coM67FyWC5&si=euj8-tBou3s5FhV7

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• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:32 - The Summer We Ran
• 03:30 - The Group Trip
• 06:25 - The River Runs South
• 09:03 - Discussion
• 14:30 - Outro

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#bookpodcast #bookrecommendations #romancenovels #TBR #readingcommunity #bookreview #bookdiscussion