Medium Lady Reads

Hello, hi, and welcome to Medium Lady Reads. This is episode 33, “Cozy Christmas Reads 2024.”

It’s the most wonderful time of the year... time for the fourth annual Cozy Christmas Reads episode! This episode is special because Jillian and Erin are joined by two additional guests, Stephanie Cunningham and Ali Oppenlaender. The four women come together yearly (previous episodes are linked below), to share each year’s picks for a cozy Christmas read.

If you’re ready for this year’s edition, just hit play wherever you listen to podcasts!

In This Episode:

• As per usual, the ladies begin with a check-in.
• Mentioned in this episode: Cozy Christmas Reads 2023, 2022, 2021
• The ladies rank their reads from scrooge to Christmas on Hallmark Street.
• It's time to share the books! The women go through and each share one book, and then they go around a second time to share their second book.
• You MUST listen in to hear Stef’s second pick. You won’t believe what she chose! 🤪🤪 Be sure to weigh in your thoughts on what Stef chose.
• It wouldn’t be an episode of Medium Lady Reads without hot takes, tune in to find out what we’re all thinking.
• All four women share what they’re waiting for from the library and what they’re reading next.
• Connect with the podcast on Instagram @mediumladyreads, Jillian or Erin.

Books Mentioned In This Episode:

• Father of the Rain by Lily King
• A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
• A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss
• Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah
• When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
• Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
• The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
• The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
• NeverMoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
• Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
• Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
• A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss
• We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
• Sandwich by Catherine Newman
• Bride by Ali Hazelwood
• One in a Million Boy by Monica Wood
• What We Sacrifice for Magic by Andrea Jo DeWerd
• Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
• The Wedding People by Alison Espach
• Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
• The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley
• For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
• A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Hello, hi, and welcome to Medium Lady Reads this is episode 14, “Our Reading Goals 2024.”

In this episode, Jillian and Erin are excited to share their reading goals for the new year. Be sure to tag them (@jillianfindinghappy and @medium.lady) on Instagram, and share your reading goals with them.

In This Episode:

• The ladies check-in and share how their reading is going.
• It’s time to reflect on the past year (2023) of books and how Erin and Jillian’s reading went.
• Be sure to listen to Medium Lady Reads episode 13, where the women share their Top 3 books of 2023.
• Erin mentions the reading tracker that the Currently Reading Patreon puts out every year.
• Let’s talk goals! The women share their goals for 2024.
• Next up, the ladies discuss what challenges and book clubs they’re participating in, in 2024.
• Join us and do 12 reads in 12 months, you can find templates at @mediumladyreads.
• BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!! It has to with our podcast and a book club - listen to find out more!!
• The women share some of the NEW RELEASES they’re excited about.
• Tune in for the Hot Takes segment.
• And, finally, the ladies share their library holds list.

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
• This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
• Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins
• Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
• The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett
• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
• Pride by Ibi Zoboi
• A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
• Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
• Funny Story by Emily Henry
• Family Family by Laurie Frankel
• Come and Get It by Kiley Reid
• Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
• The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
• Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
• The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

Hello, Hi, and welcome to Medium Lady Reads this is episode 17, “Library Etiquette and Why Dear Abby Got it So Wrong.”

In this episode, Jillian and Erin are diving into the realm of library etiquette and why it’s essential in fostering a positive reading environment. Libraries are sanctuaries for book lovers and many others within our communities, and understanding proper etiquette ensures that everyone can enjoy their time there to the fullest. However, sometimes people can take that etiquette too far... listen to this episode to learn more. Be sure to tag them (@jillianfindinghappy and @medium.lady) on Instagram, and tell us what you think about libraries and library etiquette.

In This Episode:

• A staple of every episode, the ladies check in with each other to see how their reading is going.
• Erin and Jillian discuss what library etiquette means to them, and how it’s changed through the years.
• Have you ever wondered why library etiquette matters? Erin and Jillian discuss why in this episode.
• Each woman shares some etiquette violations that you should be aware of.
• Erin shares some things you should expect when you go to the library so that you can manage your expectations.
• Ready to debunk some misconceptions? Jillian and Erin go through this list of things a librarian wrote to Dear Abby to share how one should behave in the library. Do you agree with any of these?
• If you like to reminisce, join Erin and Jillian as they spend some time discussing memories from their own childhood library experiences.
• If you’re someone who reads books because of the best-seller listing on the cover, you’re going to love this week’s hot takes.
• Finally, the women check in with each of their holds lists

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

• All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
• A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
• The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah
• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
• The Waters by Bonnie Jo Campbell
• Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
• Good Material by Dolly Alderton
• Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang
• This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan
• Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
• The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest
• A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
• Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
• Funny Story by Emily Henry
• This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

Hello, hi, and welcome to Medium Lady Reads this is episode 12, Cozy Christmas Reads 2023; Featuring Ali Oppenlaender and Stephanie Cunningham.

This week’s episode is extra special, because not only do you have Erin and Jillian, but you have the other two members of their Buddy Read Group, Ali and Stef. Together they’re going to be discussing their favorite cozy books that would be perfect to read this holiday season.

This episode was recorded in separate locations, but it is just as full of love and fun!

In This Episode:

• All four ladies check in and share how they’re reading is going.
• If you’d like to go back and listen to the previous episodes of Cozy Christmas Reads, you can listen to 2021’s episode here and 2022’s episode here.
• Each woman shares their definition of what a Cozy Christmas Read is to them.
• The women go round-robin through their recommendations. Prepare for 8 new cozy reads!
• Next up are hot takes, listen to the episode to hear what the ladies are sharing their thoughts on.
• Parnassus Books on IG: https://www.instagram.com/parnassusbooks/?hl=en
• Supposedly Fun on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/supposedlyfun, especially his episode reviewing the NYT Top 100 books of 2023: https://youtu.be/84IoxwSjAyo?si=4C7IwUI46L9QTuhC
• Best of Goodreads 2023 List
• To end the show the ladies share their holds list.

Books Mentioned In This Episode:

• Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
• A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
• One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
• The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
• The Princess and The Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz
• The One in a Million Boy by Monica Wood
• Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
• Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
• Legends & Lattes by Travis Balder
• Beyond the Four Kingdoms Series by Melanie Cellier
• The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett
• Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
• A Family for St. Nick: A Heartwarming Holiday Romance by Barbara Meyers
• The Maid by Nita Prose
• A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss
• The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros
• The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
• Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Stapley
• All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox
• A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone
• Foster by Claire Keegan

If you enjoyed this episode we would love it if you recommended us to a friend or loved one! Be sure to take a screenshot and share on Instagram stories, and tag both Jillian (@jillianfindinghappy) and Erin (@medium.lady), or the podcast @mediumladyreads, so that they can reshare the love!

Thanks for listening and if you enjoyed what you heard, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!

Tune in on December 27th for the next episode of the Medium Lady Reads Podcast.

Hello, hi, and welcome to Medium Lady Reads. This is episode 35, “We’re Back with Our 2025 Reading Goals.”

Welcome back to Medium Lady Reads! Erin and Jillian are excited to be back on mic to talk books and the library. They’re returning “rested and refreshed” after their January hiatus and can’t wait to share some of their latest reads.

In This Episode:

• The ladies welcome you back and share a check-in on how their life and reading has been going.
• Mentioned in this Episode: Episode 32 for The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
• Erin jumps into her reviews first, followed by Jillian with hers.
• Jillian and Erin share their 2025 reading goals, tune in to find out what they’ll be working towards.
• It’s time to share the holds list and what’s up next, listen in to find out what the ladies have on hold from the library.

Books Mentioned in This Episode:

• Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
• Onxy Storm by Rebecca Yarros
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
• The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
• The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
• You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
• Drive Your Own Darn Bus by Julia Kristina
• The 5-Second Rule by Mel Robbins
• The High 5 Habit by Mel Robbins
• Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
• I’m Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin
• How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
• James by Percival Everett
• Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
• Sandwich by Catherine Newman
• The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
• Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen
• The Catalogue of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
• Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout
• Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
• Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
• Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu
• Unapologetically Ambitious by Shellye Archambeau
• Women Who Work Too Much by Tamu Thomas
• The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune
• This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
• A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir