Episode 33: Cozy Christmas Reads 2024

12/11/24 • 57 min

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 33, “Cozy Christmas Reads 2024.”

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

Previous Episode

Episode 32: Romanticize Your Reading Life

Hello, hi, and welcome to Medium Lady Reads. This is episode 32, “Romanticize Your Reading Life.”

This week, Erin and Jillian are here to remind you that when the world is a dumpster fire, you can still count on your books! Take a break from the doom-scrolling and come join them for book chat, library love, and, of course, hot takes!

In This Episode:

The ladies begin with their regular check-in. They share how their reading is going and what they’re currently reading.
Jillian and Erin discuss the layout of their books to get to the heart of the episode.
It’s time for the heart of the episode, each woman shares their latest reads.
If you’re looking for a way to ethically use ChatGPT, this episode has the examples for you.
It’s time for Hot Takes and this week the ladies are asking whether children’s books count when it comes to the books you’ve read this year. Listen in to hear what Erin and Jillian think.
Are you wondering what Jillian and Erin have on hold at the library? Tune in to find out!

Books Mentioned In This Episode:

At First Spite by Olivia Dade
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
What We Sacrifice for Magic by Andrea Jo DeWerd
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
52 Weeks to a Sweeter Life by Farzana Doctor

Next Episode

Episode 34: The End of Another Year of Reading

Hello, hi, and welcome to Medium Lady Reads. This is episode 34, “The end of another year of reading.”

It’s the end of another year of reading and we’re excited to celebrate all those books that we loved this year. This episode wraps up 2024 with reviews of our favourites from the second half of the year. Plus, we’ll give our final reflections on our 2024 reading goals that we set way back in January! Feels like ages ago!

In This Episode:

As per usual, the ladies begin with a check-in.
Mentioned in this episode: Reading Goals Episode 14 and Episode 19 plus the first half of 2024 favourites Episode 23.
Which three books will the hosts share as rising to the top of the pile when it comes to the books they enjoyed in 2024?
Instead of Hot Takes Erin and Jillian review their reading goals for 2024 and comment on how these goals enriched life over the past year.
See what goals will roll over into 2025,m and what goals were forgotten about!
There’s no doubt that our side-hustle as book podcasters also drives what we read and we’re so grateful for this community to add another precious dimension of joy and community to our reading lives.
MLR will be on hiatus for the month of January, and the second half of season two will launch in February 2025!

Books Mentioned In This Episode:

The Wedding People by Alison Esbach
Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rupi Thorpe
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
Brotherless Night by VV Ganeshanathan
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
An Ember In the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir
Heir by Sabaa Tahir
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
The Millicent Quibb School of Ettiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon
NeverMoor by Jessica Townsend
The Many Assassinations of Samir the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
The Mutual Friend by Carter Bays
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
Lovelight Farms by BK Borrison
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Sandwich by Catharine Newman
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
A Love Song for Ricky WIlde by Tia Williams
Family Family by Laurie Frankel
The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Holly Ringland
The Sun and All Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
The Library At Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
Entitlement by Rumaan Alam
All Fours by Miranda July
The Plan: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius by Kendra Adachi
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
The Blue Sisters by Coco Mellores

Medium Lady Reads - Episode 33: Cozy Christmas Reads 2024

Transcript

Hello, hi and welcome to Medium Lady Reads.
This is episode 33, a very special episode, our fourth annual Cozy Christmas Reads.
Hi everyone, I'm Jillian and Instagram content strategist for "Poockish People," a mom of two based in Buffalo, New York.
And I'm Erin, a mom of three, a hospital administrator in Ontario, Canada, and the host and founder of the Medium Lady Community, a Medium Lady Talks podcast.
Together we're thrilled to bring you another episode of Medium Lady Reads, a