The Eclectic Reader

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chelsey.substack.com Hey, Readers! Thanks to Curtis’ new work from home schedule, we were able to record a podcast episode all about our favorite books at the halfway point of 2026. He’s got a lot of fantasy heavy hitters to share, and I’ve got my usual mix of literary fiction, romance, and memoir. We used to record conversations about reading, buddy reads, and bookish habits for the He Read She Read podcast (2018-2021). Now a couple of Australians seemingly trademarked the name—but no matter! We hope to record more episodes for The Eclectic Reader with Curtis as a featured guest. If you like hearing us banter about books, sign up as a paid subscriber to hear more. Find all the books we mentioned today in show notes at chelsey.substack.com.

Hey, Readers! I decided to make my June Reading Reflections episode public, so everyone can preview what these reading wrap-ups sound like each month. If you enjoy hearing me chat about my recent reads, join the paid tier to get these monthly episodes directly in your podcast app. Paid subscribers also get Electic Recs and seasonal printables in their inbox. The Eclectic Reader is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber @ chelsey.substack.com Books Mentioned * Mercy Watson: Adventures of a Porcine Wonder Series by Kate DiCamillo * The Princess in Black Series by Shannon & Dean Hale * Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan * Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear * Emily Wilde’s Enclyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett * Game of Rogues by Julie Anne Long * Make Your Way Home by Carrie R. Moore * Young Lions Fiction Award * Rickey Fayne & Carrie R. Moore on Writing the Blackness of the South Some of the links in this newsletter are Bookshop affiliate links. If you shop these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work in this way. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chelsey.substack.com/subscribe

A few months ago, I published a newsletter all about how I find book recommendations without any attention-sucking apps. It was my most popular newsletter to date, mostly because of all the comments and questions readers sent in about BookPage, a physical publication I pick up every single month at my public library. I reached out to the editor-in-chief of BookPage to see if we could chat about their book review process, and she said yes! I hope you enjoy my conversation with Trisha and Phoebe, two passionate editors whose love of reading shapes every issue of BookPage. Curious about BookPage? Visit their website to learn more or follow them on TikTok, Instagram, and Bluesky @readbookpage. Purchase an Individual Subscription, Find BookPage at your library or bookstore, and sign up for BookPage Newsletters in your inbox. For more book recommendations, reading life reflections, or stories from my adventures in gardening, subscribe to The Eclectic Reader newsletter. Books Mentioned Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein The Missed Connection by Tia Williams The Lesbian Bar Chronicles by Rachel Karp A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki The Typing Lady by Ruth Ozeki The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy Sisters of a Halved Heart by Nayantara Roy Whistler by Ann Patchett Bel Canto by Ann Patchett The Yahoo Boys by Carlos Barragán This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chelsey.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chelsey.substack.com I read some fantastic, memorable books in February, and I have a lot to say about them in this episode! In addition to ten book reviews, I share how I’m grappling with inconsistency in my reading life as a mom with potential neurodivergence. I hope you enjoy this reading wrap-up—it’s one of my favorite newsletters to send out. Books Mentioned * Still True by Maggie Ginsberg * Kin by Tayari Jones * Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden * Evil Genius by Claire Oshetsky * Country Place by Ann Petry * Dominion by Addie E. Citchens * Dom-Com by Adriana Anders * The Story of Gumluck the Wizard by Adam Rex * An Academic Affair by Jodi McAllister * Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven Some of the links in this newsletter are Bookshop affiliate links. If you shop these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work in this way.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chelsey.substack.com Hey Readers! Welcome back to Anchor Texts, our quarterly book club and close reading series. I’m excited to continue our year of Ann Petry together with Country Place, a slim, small town novel packed with tension. In today’s introductory episode, I’m sharing my annotations from the first two chapters, including notes on the narrator, possible themes to track, and Petry’s expertise in building suspense from the jump. If you are new to Anchor Texts, welcome! Here are some previous posts to catch you up on our project—but please know you aren’t missing anything or “behind” if you’re just joining us now. This is a low key, loose schedule, choose-your-own-adventure kind of reading group. We will meet via video call to discuss Country Place on February 25 at 6 pm Central/7 pm Eastern. Links to our book club meeting and our exclusive Discord chat await you on Substack.