In this episode of the Reading Materials Podcast we are joined by the lovely Elizabeth Arnott, whose newest book The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives comes out on April 9th.

We chatted about how her long-time fascination with true crime led to writing about serial killers, how to make the muse your bitch, and giving voice to the people who have suffered for the violent crimes of men.

This week on the Reading Materials Podcast we are excited to be chatting with Fran Fabrizcki, debut author of Porcupines which will be published on April 16th.

Join us to hear how Fran wove in elements of her own experience growing up at the tail-end of the Cold War into the book, what podcasts she listens to in her free time, and how becoming a mother influenced her writing.

In this episode of Reading Materials, we’re joined by author E. K. Wise to discuss her novel Debilis Rising, released last year.

We chat about how her love of travel and geology shapes her storytelling, why it was important for her to include a character with ADHD, and her journey through the world of independent publishing.

It’s an insightful and engaging conversation about representation, creativity, and carving your own path as a writer.

In this episode of Reading Materials, we’re joined by bestselling romance author Amy Lea for a warm and candid conversation about life as a writer. Amy's newest book, The Bodyguard Affair, will be released on the 26th of February, 2026!

We chat about the importance of finding and nurturing an author community, her favourite (and least favourite!) romance tropes, and her ambition to branch out into new genres in the future.

It’s a fun, honest discussion about creativity, connection, and what comes next.

In this special wrap-up episode of the Reading Materials Podcast, we look back on our 2025 in books and podcasting.

We break down our reading stats, revisit our favorite books, characters, and standout podcast moments, and chat about what surprised us most along the way.

Plus, we look ahead to what 2026 has in store for our TBRs, the podcast, and the stories we can’t wait to dive into next.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:30 - Life Updates

04:20 - 2025 Podcast Stats

06:30 - Our Author Interviews

11:00 - 2025 Reading Goals

14:50 - Favourite Podcast Book

17:15 - Top 3 Non-Podcast Books

27:05 - Least Favourite Podcast Book

29:50 - The Most Disappointing Podcast Book

34:05 - The Biggest Surprise

36:00 - Least Favourite Non-Podcast Books

40:55 - Favourite Characters

42:00 - Favourite Podcast Moments

43:15 - Favourite Podcast Season

43:50 - New Favourite Author

45:35 - 2026 Reading Goals

47:20 - Most Anticipated New Releases in 2025

48:20 - Coming Up on Reading Materials in 2025

52:00 - Outro

In this week's episode of Reading Materials, we dive into Kill the Beast by Serra Swift and talk about how refreshing it was to read a fairy-tale retelling with no romance in sight.

We discuss the role of trusty companion Brandy, unpack the mechanics of curse-breaking, and explore why this story works so well without leaning on romantic love as a solution.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Brief Life Updates

05:10 - Introduction to the Author

06:40 - Spoiler Warning

07:15 - The Blurb

08:55 - Our Discussion of 'Kill the Beast'

55:10 - Next Time on Reading Materials

57:40 - Outro

In this episode of the Reading Materials Podcast, we step into Cinder House by Freya Marske and unpack what makes this a genuinely enjoyable Cinderella retelling.

We talk about how impressively well-developed the characters are for such a short book, and we dig into a bigger conversation about queerness in publishing — where representation feels authentic, and where it risks being used as a marketing hook.

Cozy, clever, and more layered than it first appears, this one gave us plenty to discuss.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:15 - Brief Life Updates

03:00 - An Introduction to Freya Marske

05:15 - Spoiler Warning

06:00 - The Blurb

06:55 - Our Discussion of 'Cinder House'

49:20 - Next Time on Reading Materials

50:05 - Outro

In this episode of Reading Materials, we dive into The Treasures by Harriet Evans (released June 12, 2025), exploring its richly drawn dual settings in 1950s London and 1960s New York.

We unpack our love/hate relationship with cliffhangers, chat about how surprisingly dark the story becomes, and reflect on how these layered timelines reshape the family drama at its core.

Thank you for Viking for sending us ARCs of the book.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Life Updates

02:30 - An Introduction to Harriet Evans

05:10 - Spolier Warning

05:40 - The Blurb

06:30 - Our Discussion of the Book

01:09:45 - Outro