Pond (and Yesteryear)

Welcome to The Reading Lounge! Sarah and Cynthia discuss The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy. This novel is bit of a mystery, family drama, and coming of age story all in one. Listen in to hear our thoughts and decide if you should add to your TBR. Spoiler alert - one of us even changed our mind after the discussion. Who doesn't love discussing books to get a different perspective while enjoying a refreshing mocktail!George's Good Life Spritz2 oz fresh orange juice1 oz fresh lemon juice4 oz sparking water (we used a lemon flavored sparkling water)1/2 oz honey Mix all ingredients over ice and garnish with an orange wheel and sprig of mint. Other books we discussed include:Solito by Javier ZamoraAn Unexpected Life by Gloria SteinemThis Book Made Me Think of You by Libby PageMarilyn and Her Books: The Literary Life of Marilyn Monroe by Gail CrowtherThe Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullersThank you for joining us in The Reading Lounge!

Sarah and Cynthia share their picks for Fall 2026 reading. With so many great books to choose from, here is a head start on what to pick up and add to your TBR. While you're enjoying your Fall reads, here is a season cocktail to sip on.Apple Cider Bourbon Fizz1.5 oz Bourbon3 oz apple juicesplash of ginger aleMix all in a glass over ice and enjoy!

We head to France in this episode of The Reading Lounge as we discuss The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. Originally written in French in 2006, the novel has been translated into numerous languages and even made into a French movie. Come listen in as we discuss the the challenges and rewards of the novel. Of course, our resident mixologist, Sarah, created a cocktail especially for our episode!The Concierge's Secret2 oz cognac or brandy3/4 oz elderflower liqueur2.5 oz sparkling lemonadeLemon twistMix cognac, elderflower liqueur and ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with sparkling lemonade and garnish with a twist.

Welcome to The Reading Lounge! In this episode, Sarah and Cynthia dive into The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett, a novel that weaves family drama, grief, and healing together with warmth, humor, and an unforgettable catnamed Pancakes. Tune in as we share our reactions to the story and raise a glass to this month’s cocktail—a drink we enjoyed almost as much as the book.Tender Hearts Tonic1 ½ oz vodka (or gin)1 oz orange juice½ oz Aperol½ oz honey rosemary syrup2 oz sparking wine (we used Prosecco)Mix first four ingredients in a shaker with ice, strain intoa glass and top with sparkling wine. The other books we read and discuss are:Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa SeeThe Land and Its People by David SedarisAn Infinite Love Story by Chanel CleetonWhere Her Secrets Lie by Katie TalloEveryday I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books by HwangBo-reum

We know it is already August, but it feels like we have a stretch of hot, summer days ahead of us. In this bonus episode, we add a few new selections to our TBR list. We love that we each select books the other has not heard of! Listen in to find some of your late summer reads.Here are the books we discuss.Whistler by Ann PatchettLand by Maggie O'FarrellGood Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki BrammerContrapposto by Dave EggersAn Infinite Love Story by Chanel CleetonSocial Animals by Camille PerriYou'll Love It Here by Natalie SueSunrise by Tea ObrehtLet's not forget a bright summer cocktail for your outdoor reading.Peach & Thyme Prosecco Spritz1 oz frozen peach puree4 oz ProseccoSplash of sodaSpring of thymeSounds like dessert in a glass! Enjoy your summer reading!

In this episode of The Reading Lounge, Sarah and Cynthiadiscuss Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett. Pond is a spare novel that weaves together vignettes of a woman’s isolated life in coastal Ireland. It is one of the most unique reads we’ve picked up this year. We also read one of the most talked about new books thisyear: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. We have thoughts on this page turner! To go along with the longer days of summer and (hopefully)more reading time, we have a refreshing cocktail to accompany your next great read. The Trembling Moonrise1 ¼ oz botanical gin½ oz dry vermouth½ oz elderflower liquor¼ oz fresh lemon juiceMix these ingredients in a shaker with ice. Pour into a glassover muddled cucumber and mint. Top with 1 oz of prosecco. Summer in a glass! Enjoy!

We are talking about The Artist and The Feast by Lucy Steedsin The Reading Lounge. Set just after WWI, a famous artist, the artist’s niece, and an aspiring artist and journalist come together in a remote village in the south of France and discover what it means to both unseen and seen and the challenges people face to find their self-expression. Join us in The Reading Lounge to see if you may want to add this novel to your TBR.Our resident mixologist, Sarah, developed a fabulous andapropos cocktail for this read:The Crimson Atelier1 ½ oz vodka1 oz cranberry juice (we used sweetened)½ oz Cointreau (or other orange liqueur)½ oz lime juice2-3 fresh rosemary sprigssplash of ProseccoMuddle a sprig of rosemary in a shaker, add ice, vodka,juices, and Cointreau. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Add a splash of Prosecco and garnish with rosemary. Other books mentioned in this episode:Attribution by Linda Moore is the book we read previouslythat dealt with women in the art world!Daughters of the Bamboo Grove by Barbara DemickThe Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy

Welcome into The Reading Lounge. In this episode, Cynthiaand Sarah discuss The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn. This historical fiction novel tells the intertwined story of two young women, their families,and those they meet during their different paths in Nazi-occupied Europe. Set largely in Nazi-occupied Europe, the novel confronts the Nazi propaganda machine designed to dehumanize while giving voices to those being dehumanized. We created a cocktail called Redemption.1 ½ oz bourbon1 oz apple juice½ oz lemon juice1-2 dashes angostura bitters¼ oz honey1 ½ oz sparkling waterMix first five ingredients in a shaker, strain over ice, andtop with sparkling water. Other books discussed in this episode:Martyr! by Kaveh AkbarJane Austen’s Bookshelf by Rebecca RomneyShut Up and Read by Jeannine CookShame Must Change Sides by Gisele Pelicot

It's still spring and we have selected six new books we are adding to our TBR lists. If you're looking for suggestions for your next spring read, listen in to this bonus episode of The Reading Lounge! We are also going to give this refreshing cocktail a try during spring reading season:Primavera Spritz1.5 oz vodka or gin1 oz fresh orange juice1/2 oz fresh lemon juice1/2 oz simple syrup or honey2 - 3 oz sparking water or club sodaMix all ingredients and serve over ice.

Welcome into The Reading Lounge! We are discussing My Mother Cursed My Name by Anamely Salgado Reyes. Three generations of Mexican American grapple with family history and the "curse" of their names. We discovered this novel and this author at the 2026 Women's Literary Festival in Long Beach, California. This episode's libation is called: The Truth Tea.2 oz gin2 oz chilled mint teatop with a splash of elderflower liqueurShake with icePour into ice filled glass and top with an ounce or two of tonic water, to taste.Garnish with a limeOther books we talk about in this episode: Project Hail MaryThe Boleyn TraitorHomeseekingThe Conjuring of AmericaThanks for joining us in The Reading Lounge.