J.A. Forde joins the show to discuss her Love Along the Way series, her journey as an Indie author, the upcoming Scottish bookish tour with Lumina Literary Tours and so much more.

Also in this episode, we discuss the decline of mass market books, Hamnet's big screen success, and some theories regarding trends on the New York Times Best Sellers List. There is always so much to talk about when we let the books talk for themselves!

#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

• @speakliterallypodcast
• @lizzieslittlebooknook
• @azdesert_bookworm

Join us as we well cozy heist caper author Sasha Preston to the show. She shares her insights on her Sweet Escape series and her writing process.

We also dive into conversations on the movies up for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars, Audiobooks in a Card, and the author who sold his 50 millionth book!!

Book discussions include The Storm by Rachel Hawkins, Palm Meridian by Grace Flahive, and several others!

Don't miss this latest episode!

#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

• @speakliterallypodcast
• @lizzieslittlebooknook
• @azdesert_bookworm

We're kicking 2026 off with an amazing Australian indie author! See what you are missing out on if you haven't read any of Bridget's books - including her newest release The Husband Wishlist.

This episode also takes a look at some of the 2025 book trends, genre bookstores, and a review of the Netflix adaption of Emily Henry's 'People We Meet on Vacation'. Specific books discussed include Upgrade by Blake Crouch, Blood of Bright Haven by ML Wang, and Quicksilver by Callie Hart.

#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

@speakliterallypodcast

@lizzieslittlebooknook

@azdesert_bookworm

Speaking LITerally #65: 2025 Year In Review

Every year seems to be full of more bookish goodness than the last, and 2025 was no exception. Join Holly and Liz can they take a trip down memory lane and reflect on their top books of the year and some of the books that are on their list for 2026.

Stick around for the 2026 season for more shenanigans and even more author interviews. It's going to be great!

Sending wishes for a wonderful and happy new year!

#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

@speakliterallypodcast

@lizzieslittlebooknook

@azdesert_bookworm

Speaking LITerally #64: Book Club Featuring The Most Wonderful Crime of The Year

The final episode of 2025 is here, and there is no better way to wrap up the year than with a book club episode! Jen and Steph join Holly and Liz to discuss Ally Carter's popular holiday mystery romance. Let's just say the book was a BIG hit!

Additional topics include the Goodread's Reader Choice Award winners, Audible's partnership with TikTok, the debate over teaching excerpts vs whole novels in schools, book adaption updates and, of course, some holiday reads!

As another year comes to an end, here is a huge, heart filled thank you for all the support of this little podcast. Have a wonderful, safe and relaxing holiday season.#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

@speakliterallypodcast

@lizzieslittlebooknook

@azdesert_bookworm

Australian Indie Author Sean Bobby Kerr joins the show to discuss his epic fantasy book. She shares some fun and interesting insight on his experience as an author and how he approaches his writing process.

It's the time of year where book awards are announced and holiday books are all the rage. We address both in this episode, as well as some recent and upcoming movie adaptations.

Not to spoil all the fun, but a few of the books discussed include The Will of Many, A Study In Drowning, and Three Pucking Words. Stephen King, Andy Weir, and Leigh Bardugo may also come up in conversation along with several others.

Don's miss another fun episode.

#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

@speakliterallypodcast

@lizzieslittlebooknook

@azdesert_bookworm

Natalia Williams joins the show to talk her book Taking the Cake and her Tango Series in our latest episode.

It's Halloween, so we discuss the season and how Darcy Coates has become a fixture in our spooky season library.

Other topics discussed include the Book of the Year candidates and the Indiverse Awards. To cover the international news of the recent Louvre robbery, heist books are also a big topic of discussion.

The fun never stops. Don't miss it!

#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

@speakliterallypodcast

@lizzieslittlebooknook

@azdesert_bookworm

Rabbit Moon author Jan D Payne joins the show to share her passion of writing and how her background with the Navajo Nation has shaped her storytelling.

Spooky season is here, so we would not be doing our job without discussing some of our picks for the season. Books covered include Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, and October Forever by Katie Cawood. Stephen King and Darcy Coates may also have been pulled into the conversation!

We also make our final predictions on who will win this year's Booker Prize, and the questions remains - will Holly remain undefeated in her predictions!

Banned Book Week 2025 is discussed as well as the exciting return of Reading Rainbow with it's new host plus so much more!

#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

@speakliterallypodcast

@lizzieslittlebooknook

@azdesert_bookworm