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
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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
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1:29:36
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1:29:36
A Challenge for the Youths
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.
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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
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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
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1:05:02
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1:05:02
It's a B*tchmance
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
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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
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1:10:26
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1:10:26
The F Man Himself
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
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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
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1:02:17
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1:02:17
Poppin' Off with Jess Walter
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
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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
A podcast about two of the best things in life: books and champagne. Hosted by Ellyn Grimm and Amanda Lepper, co-owners of Dog-Eared Books in Ames, Iowa.
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