Great Big Beautiful Life Deep Dive

Hey besties, Karly and Mia have an exciting announcement for y'all! Reading & Ranting is officially announcing seasons - and this is the official end to Season 1! The girls are taking a brief hiatus to come back bigger and better than ever with more book recs, life updates, tips on how to survive life as a girl in your 20s, and of course, endless SJM and Rebecca Yarros content. With Season 2 on the horizon (coming to all podcast platforms soon!), please keep in touch on TikTok @readingandrantingpod and send through ALL the book recs! Until then, happy reading besties!

In today's episode, Karly and Mia are diving deep into A Great Big Beautiful Life, the brand-new release from their favorite rom-com author, Emily Henry. Honestly, enough said there - full spoilers ahead for this debrief of Henry's latest book (and yet another 5-star hit)!

Your favorite podcast hosts are spiraling over how dating in your 20s seriously feels like a man’s world. Why is it that guys can go on three dates and end up in a relationship, while the most beautiful, emotionally intelligent women they know are out here getting ghosted by men whose best Hinge prompt is “What I order for the table: tequila”? Mia & Karly break down the frustrating state of modern dating, the societal pressure to be “chosen,” and how organic meet-cutes have essentially died off. The girls also chat about shifting their mindsets, dating with more intention, and reclaiming their power (even if they still delete and redownload Hinge every other Sunday night).

Mia & Karly are back and swapping book recs like it’s their full-time job (they wish it was)! This week, Karly dives into People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, because who doesn’t love a good friends-to-lovers moment? Meanwhile, Mia’s bringing the spice with Heavenly Bodies, the latest romantasy sensation trending on BookTok. The girls also catch up on life updates, including Mia’s recent induction into the 25 and up club and their mission to upgrade their bar scene, because let’s be real, 23 and 25 are not the same, and they’re officially done getting hit on by 22-year-olds. Happy reading, besties!

It’s Mia’s birthday, and she’s turning 25 in the most on-brand way possible - by making it about books. In this special solo episode, she reflects on 25 life lessons she's learned through books, from childhood fables to dystopian rebels to 20th century classics and ultimately, faeries.  Whether you're in your mid twenties or just remembering your own quarter-life crisis fondly, this episode is for anyone who's ever turned to a book to figure out life, or at least cry about it. And the lesson of the episode? You’re never too old to be shaped by fiction… or to reread Gallagher Girls unapologetically.

Okay besties, time for a heated debate… Mia & Karly are dropping their official Sarah J. Maas book rankings! In this episode, the girls rank all 16 books from Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City, comparing their favorites (and least favorites) and discussing the plot points that made them scream, cry, and throw the books across the room. You might just be surprised by what book ends up on top for both Mia & Karly… Plus, the girls are ranting about how NYC just had its first 80-degree day, Aries season is in full swing, and we are fully defrosted and ready to thrive. Tune in for chaotic book opinions, seasonal rants, and all the usual nonsense.

Karly is finally back from her incredible two week trip to Australia! Now that the besties and co hosts are reunited, they’re here to tell all about their latest reads and life updates. Karly has lots to share about her trip down under (inclusive of blackout uber eatsing $80 worth of drunk eats and waking up at 5am on her friend’s couch) and Mia has a new frenemies relationship with a dive bar bartender. Happy reading besties! 

Besties, welcome back for part two of Mia’s deep dive into Taylor Swift’s literary influences! With Karly still off living her best life in Australia, Mia takes the mic solo to continue unpacking the insights from Taylor Swift By The Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, From Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets by Rachel Feder and Tiffany Tatreau.  This time, she’s covering the emotional rollercoaster of Lover, the poetic heartbreak of Folklore and Evermore, the gothic depths of Midnights, and the raw vulnerability of The Tortured Poets Department. From sentimentalism to postmodernism, Mia explores how Taylor’s lyrics include literary allusions and how these albums have shaped her own life. If you’ve ever screamed “You’re On Your Own, Kid” on a solo drive or sobbed to “Champagne Problems” after a breakup, this episode is for you.

It’s been a long time coming… Karly may be off living her Wildest Dreams in Australia, but Mia is here with a solo episode topic she’s been waiting for: Taylor Swift. Inspired by Taylor Swift By The Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, From Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets by Rachel Feder and Tiffany Tatreau, Mia unpacks the literary influences behind Taylor’s discography, one era at a time. This book offers a fascinating lens through which to analyze Taylor’s evolution as both a songwriter and a storyteller. Mia found herself learning new vocab words from the getgo, from the bildungsroman themes of Debut to the fairy-tale magic of Fearless and Speak Now, the modernist heartbreak of Red, the Gatsby-like grandeur of 1989, all the way to the indulgent, unapologetic decadence of Reputation.  Whether you’re a die-hard Swiftie or just someone who likes their lyrics with a little literary flair, this episode will have you enchanted.

Mia & Karly are still deep in their Onyx Storm hangover, so naturally, it’s time for a full-blown therapy session psychoanalyzing Xaden Riorson. The girls discuss his mommy and daddy issues, his self-sacrificing streak, and his relationship with Violet. But let’s be honest, they’re really just here to swoon over yet another shadow daddy book boyfriend. Spoilers for Onyx Storm are included in this episode! Based on a real life conversation held last weekend on Mia’s couch, the girls are rehashing the dilemma of where the hell to move next. As single twenty-something women, the world is technically our oyster—but how do you actually decide where to live? Mia & Karly are breaking down the important factors like career opportunities, cost of living, public transport (looking at you, NYC), and whether we need an emotional support friend group nearby. Are we chasing adventure or stability? And more importantly… is the food scene good?