Bubbles and Books

We are officially halfway through 2025. Amanda and Ellyn are looking back on the last six months of reading and are sharing the best books they've read this year... so far. They also have sourced recommendations from the Dog-Eared booksellers. Listen along and let us know if you agree or share what you think your best book of 2025 is!

Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Devil Reached Toward the Sky by Garrett Graff, Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser, & Culpability by Bruce Holsinge

Amanda's Currently Reading | Heart the Lover by Lily King

Best Books of the year... so far:

• Here Beside the Rising Tide by Emily Jane
• So Far Gone by Jess Walter
• O, Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy
• Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson
• Sky Daddy by Kate Folk
• Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
• The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb
• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
• Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng - 
• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
• Heartwood by Amity Gaige

____________________________________________________

Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends.

Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE.

Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast

Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames

Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE.

Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Ellyn’s daughter Jay is in the hot seat this week—and it’s all about her serious lack of reading. To fix the situation, Ellyn went straight to Dog-Eared Books booksellers and came back with a mission (and a bag full of recommendations). Now, Jay’s been officially challenged to a summer of reading. Will she rise to the occasion or fake her way through the pages? Tune in to find out what’s on her reading list and how she really feels about it.

Ellyn's Currently Reading | Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston & Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

Rachel's Currently Reading | The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong

Jay's Currently Reading | Nothing.

__________________

Bookseller Rec Competition

• • Katie - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • Mariah - Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
  • Caleb - The Martian by Andy Weir
  • Megan - They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran
  • Jess - True Grit by Charles Portis
  • Amy - The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  • Roxy - Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
  • Nayeli - Vicious by VE Schwab
  • Rachel - Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
  • Ellyn - How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

____________________________________________________

Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends.

Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE.

Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast

Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames

Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE.

Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Today's episode is all about these two bitches talking about their bitchmance. Inspired by Dolls on the Brain, Amanda and Ellyn go through all the types of bitchmancery in the bitchdom and real and fictional bitchmances they admire. 

 

Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Perry Pickers by Amanda Peters & Indian Country by Shobha Rao

Amanda's Currently Reading | Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson & My Friends by Fredrik Backman

______________________________________________________________________

Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends.

Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE.

Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast

Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames

Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE.

Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Today, Ellyn is joined by Dog-Eared's Roxy Strike and Nick Narigon—writer, indie press founder, and former Iowa County resident. They chat about everything from favorite ‘90s angst anthems to what it’s really like starting a small press. It’s a fun, honest conversation full of hometown memories and creative inspiration. Be sure to check out Nick’s Hayseed Press to see what he’s been working on!

Nick who is joining us from Singapore, has 20+ years of writing and editing experience in America, Tokyo, and Singapore. His writing has appeared in Kinfolk magazine, Scouting magazine, Wall Street Journal-Asia, Time Out Tokyo, etc. Most recently he was editor-in-chief of Tokyo Weekender magazine, Japan’s number one English-language lifestyle magazine. 

Learn more about The F Man Himself by Nick Narigon HERE

______________________________________________________________________

Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends.

Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE.

Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast

Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames

Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE.

Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

On this week’s Bubbles & Books, Ellyn and Amanda are joined by bestselling author Jess Walter to talk about his upcoming novel So Far Gone.

Expect laughs, insights, and thoughtful discussion as Jess shares how this novel took shape, what it says about the world today, and why he chose to leave social media. And we're so excited to share that Jess will be coming to Dog-Eared Books for a Cocktails & Convos event on Friday, September 12, at 7 PM. 

Pop open your favorite bubbly or pour yourself a spiked coffee, and be prepared to become obsessed with Jess Walter if you're not already — you don’t want to miss this one!

Pre-Order So Far Gone by Jess Walter HERE

Rhys Kinnick is an aging former journalist who’s secluded himself in the woods of Washington after a family blow-up and his increasing disenchantment with the way the world is changing around him. Like Rhys, our human tendency is to withdraw when the world seems to be falling apart, but Jess Walter’s novel shows us why it’s important to hold onto connections with the people we love, even when those connections are sometimes fraught. The book is filled with a colorful cast of fully-developed characters – all multi-facetted people with nuanced storylines. It’s both hilarious and heart-rending, while offering astute and timely social commentary.

Follow Jess Walter on Instagram HERE

Visit Jess Walter's website HERE

______________________________________________________________________

Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends.

Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE.

Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast

Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames

Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE.

Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We are heading into summer and all the reading lists are coming out. Some are thoughtfully curated, and others… sloppily slapped together by AI. But today, we present you with an “AE” (Amanda & Ellyn) generated summer reading list—and trust us, it's way better than whatever the bots cooked up. Whether you're into breezy rom-coms, twisty thrillers, or something a little more unexpected, they've got you covered.

Check out the Book Riot summer reading list HERE.

Please enjoy our "AE" generated summer reading list, and let us know which ones you pick up!

Ellyn's Currently Reading | Run For the Hills by Kevin Wilson & Indian Country by Shobha Rao

Amanda's Currently Reading | Endling by Maria Reva

Books coming out this week | Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood & Never Flinch by Stephen King

Catch up on these books that everyone’s been talking about that you haven’t gotten to you.

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

James by Percival Everett

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman 

The Names by Florence Knapp

Heartwood by Amity Gage

Beach Reads

One golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston (out June 17)

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood (out this week)

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Remarkable Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Here Beside the Rising Tide by Emily Jane

Road trip books

Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

If You Love Us, you’ll make sure you read:

So Far Gone by Jess Walter (out June 10)

O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy

For fuck’s sake, if you haven’t read American Mermaid by Julia Langbein yet, do it. You won’t regret it

Read Only One Book This Summer

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty

Hot Titles Coming Out This Summer

Bury the Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab  (out June 10)

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (out June 3)

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson  (out July 22)

______________________________________________________________________

Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends.

Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE.

Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast

Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames

Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE.

Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We are excited to welcome Dog-Eared Books' best-selling author to the Bubbles & Books podcast! Amanda & Ellyn have popped the bubbles and are chatting all about Kristen's adult cozy mystery How to Solve Your Own Murder and its sequel How to Seal Your Own Fate.

Her books are full of twisty plots and eclectic characters, and she's sharing how she crafts a mystery that's both page-turning and comforting. We chat about the appeal of the cozy crime genre, what it's like writing in an English village setting from abroad, and a few hints about what’s next in her literary world. 

 

Books recommended by Kristen Perrin:

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

All the Colors of the Dark by Christ Whitaker

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

 

Kristen will be at Boucher Con! Learn more about it HERE

Order your copy of How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin HERE

Order your copy of How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin HERE

Discover other books by Kristen Perrin HERE

Follow Kristen Perrin on Instagram HERE

______________________________________________________________________

Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends.

Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE.

Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast

Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames

Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE.

Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

In today's episode Amanda & Ellyn are breaking down the data from Indie Bookstore Day and giving you the best-sellers, how many passports we gave out, and special anecdotes we noticed throughout the day. Thank you to our listeners who came out to Dog-Eared Books and those who also participated in the Central Iowa Indie Bookstore Day passport. And especially to those who said "Chambong me b*tch." We love you.

As hear on the podcast: 

Follow Annie B. Jones on Instagram

Listen to From the Front Porch Podcast

 

What we're drinking | French Blue Rose Brut

Ellyn's Currently Reading | Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia, Ordinary Times by Annie B. Jones, & Murder in the Dollhouse by Rich Cohen

Amanda's Currently Reading | The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson & The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

Books coming out this week | Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (now in paperback) & The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends.

Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE.

Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast

Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames

Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE.

Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We put it out there and asked everyone who follows us on social media to ask us anything. From bookish to random, Ellyn and Amanda are sharing everything.

This Saturday, April 26, 2025 spend your day visiting Indie Bookstores for Indie Bookstore Day! The Central Iowa Indie Bookstores have brought back the passport challenge. Visit all the indies in two days to win a grand prize!

What we're drinking | Cocktails from Della Viti

Ellyn's Currently Reading | Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry & The Greatest Possible Good by Ben Brooks

Amanda's Currently Reading | How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin & The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley

Rachel's Currently Reading | The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg

Books coming out this week | Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

______________________________________________________________________

Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends.

Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE.

Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast

Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames

Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE.

Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Ellyn has a game for Amanda & Rachel... and they're not very good at it. This episode is a fun one of chatting current reads and testing our bookish knowledge.

Get tickets for Kevin Wilson at Dog-Eared Books HERE

What we're drinking | Cocktails from Della Viti

Ellyn's Currently Reading | Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart & Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

Amanda's Currently Reading | Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry & The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

Rachel's Currently Reading | The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar & The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei

Books coming out this week | Wild and Wrangle by Lyla Sage

______________________________________________________________________

Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends.

Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE.

Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast

Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames

Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE.

Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com