We’re back from a November–December hiatus and kicking off the new year with a cozy (and slightly chaotic) reading reset. In this episode of Reeding Between the Lines, we look back on their 2025 reading, compare notes on buzzy picks vs. surprise favorites, and do the most 2026 thing imaginable: ask ChatGPT what our book choices say about us.Nicole shares her 2025 highlights, including three widely-loved “BookTok/BookTube” titles—The Correspondent (Virginia Evans), Broken Country (Claire Leslie Hall), and What Kind of Paradise (Janelle Brown)—plus three lesser-known 5-star backlist gems: Someone at a Distance (Dorothy Whipple), The Caretaker (Ron Rash), and Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (Elizabeth Taylor). She also reveals her stats (a casual 136 books in 2025), how she uses “palate cleanser” romances, and what she’s aiming for in 2026 (more audiobooks, more intentional TBR reading, and donating/unhauling over 100 books).Sara shares her own 2025 buzzy reads (including a couple hard “no’s”), highlights a standout cozy fantasy—A Teller of Small Fortunes (Julie Leong). Nicole also convinces Sara to preorder a March release on the spot: Lady Tremaine, a Cinderella retelling from the stepmother’s POV.Plus: a full-on book journaling segment, including Nicole’s Archer & Olive journal setup, seasonal TBRs, monthly favorites, a “DNF graveyard,” sticker systems, and why journaling counts as reading-adjacent joy (because we support hobbies that require glue).Books mentioned for winter reading include The Ghostwriter (Julie Clark), The Frozen People (Elly Griffiths), and The Land in Winter (Andrew Miller), plus a food-and-memory pairing featuring The Kamogawa Food Detectives and a similar-premise pick, Aftertaste.If you’ve ever wondered what your reading habits say about you—or you just want permission to be both “deep” and “trash goblin” in the same month—this episode is for you.Question for you: If you asked ChatGPT to analyze your reading taste, what do you hope it would say?📷 Instagram: @reedingpod

This month, we’re leaning into the cozy chaos of autumn with gothic reads, witchy retellings, and darkly enchanting novels that pair perfectly with a warm mug and candlelight. From the small-town secrets of Buckeye by Patrick Ryan to the spell-tinged retellings in Salt and Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher, this episode of Reeding Between the Lines unpacks the books that carried us through September — and the ones casting a spell over our October TBR.We talk about The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano, a chilling reimagining of the first woman executed for witchcraft in Massachusetts, and A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney, a lush, atmospheric love letter to anyone who keeps a little bit of witch in their heart all year long. We also revisit The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson — an 18th-century mystery perfect for fans of Dickens — and Babel by R.F. Kuang, a dark academia masterpiece that asks how far you’ll go for knowledge and power.📚 Whether you’re craving haunted mansions, found family in the stars (Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei), or cozy witch-next-door vibes, this episode delivers a perfectly balanced cauldron of bookish recommendations.

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Step into the world of dark fairy tales, haunted coal mines, and unforgettable characters with award-winning author Ursula Vernon — who many readers also know as T. Kingfisher.In this episode, we dive into her two newest releases:Hemlock & Silver (Aug 19, 2025) — a chilling, witty retelling of Snow White that asks what happens when a poison healer is summoned to save a princess trapped between worlds.What Stalks the Deep (Sept 30, 2025) — the third installment of the Sworn Soldier novellas, where Alex Easton ventures into a haunted West Virginia coal mine in search of a missing cousin.We also talk about Ursula’s inspiration, her process of writing for both kids and adults, and how her art continues to shape the way she tells stories. If you love fairy tales with teeth, horror with heart, and characters you’ll never forget, this conversation is for you.🔗 Learn more about Ursula Vernon / T. Kingfisher:Website: https://www.redwombatstudio.comT. Kingfisher’s Books: https://tkingfisher.com🌑 Dark Fairy-Tale Retellings by T. KingfisherThe Seventh Bride (2014) – BluebeardBryony and Roses (2015) – Beauty and the BeastThe Raven & the Reindeer (2016) – The Snow QueenThornhedge (2023) – Sleeping BeautyA Sorceress Comes to Call (2024) – The Goose GirlHemlock & Silver (2025) – Snow White⚠️ Footnote for AccuracyCorrection: In this episode, I mistakenly referred to Alex Easton (the protagonist of the Sworn Soldier series) as “she.” Alex’s pronouns are they/them.