Episode 498 || Annie Recommends: Campus Novels & Spooky Reads

This week on From the Front Porch, we’re preparing for the holidays and forgoing our traditional episode format to bring you an author interview with Lorilee Cracker and Jenny Williams, authors of Eat Like a Heroine. This beautiful book contains wisdom on how to eat, picnic, comfort, host and more like your favorite literary heroines and is perfect for gift-giving. Annie, Lorilee, and Jenny chat about food in literature and what our childhood heroines can teach us in adulthood. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 503” to find the books mentioned in this episode), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Eat Like a Heroine by Jenny Williams and Lorilee Craker From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  Thank you to this week’s sponsor, Thomasville, Georgia. There is something truly special about the holiday season in Downtown Thomasville. The twinkling lights, beautifully decorated store windows, and holiday events all add to the festive feeling of the season. Let us be your shopping and dining destination this holiday season, so spend Christmas in Thomasville with us. Activities are held every weekend leading up to Christmas, including this year’s 38th Annual Victorian Christmas on December 12 and 13. Learn more by visiting thomasvillega.com or call 229-228-7977. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading Penitence by Kristin Koval.  If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.

To read along with our 2025 Conquer a Classic selection, make sure you join From the Front on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.    Then buy the book from The Bookshelf: https://bookshelfthomasville.com/products/don-quixote. Our annual reading begins in January!  

This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another New Release Rundown! Annie, Erin, and Olivia are sharing the November releases they’re excited about to help you build your TBR. When you purchase or preorder any of the books they talk about, enter the code NEWRELEASEPLEASE at checkout for 10% off your order! To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 502” to find the books mentioned in this episode), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Annie's books: Lazarus Man by Richard Price (11/12) Heartbreak Is the National Anthem by Rob Sheffield (11/12) Pictures of You: A Novel by Emma Grey (11/12) Olivia's books: All the Best Dogs by Emily Jenkins (11/5) Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney (11/12) The Winterton Deception 2: Fault Lines by Janet Sumner Johnson (11/12) Erin's books: Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers (11/12) Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso by Jeremy Egner (11/12) Time of the Child by Niall Williams (11/19) From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.  Olivia is reading Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney.  Erin is listening to What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in October. You get 10% off your books when you order your October Reading Recap Bundle. Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle, which features Annie’s favorite books she read that month. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 501” to find the books mentioned in this episode), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt The Barn by Wright Thompson The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak Casket Case by Lauren Evans Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa-Marie Presley and Riley Keough October Reading Recap Bundle - $88 The Barn by Wright Thompson The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today’s episode can be found below. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa-Marie Presley and Riley Keough. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Happy 500 episodes of From the Front Porch! This week, we’re celebrating by unlocking a Patreon perk: one of our Porch Visits, our monthly Q&As with Annie. Every month over on Patreon, Annie answers your questions in a live Zoom meeting. Listen to today’s episode for a peek into Patreon. Join the fun on Patreon here. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 500” on our website to find the books mentioned in this episode), or shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci A Bit Much by Lyndsay Rush Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten James by Percival Everett Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout Playground by Richard Powers The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich The Book of Belonging by Mariko Clark The Man Who Didn't Like Animals by Deborah Underwood Adult Holiday Literary First Look ticket Kid's Holiday Literary First Look ticket Virtual Holiday Market ticket From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.

This week on From the Front Porch, it’s a new episode of Into the Backlist! Today, Annie changes her focus from new releases to dive into the backlist: the books that came out years ago, the books that didn’t get enough attention, the books you may stumble upon while browsing in an indie bookstore like The Bookshelf. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 499” on our website to find the books mentioned in this episode), or shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Defending Jacob by William Landay Annie would put these on the shelf with Defending Jacob: The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker With Teeth by Kristen Arnett Happiness Falls by Angie Kim The Push by Ashley Audrain The Whispers by Ashley Audrain Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister The President’s Lawyer by Lawrence Robbins Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow Past Into the Backlist titles: Frances and Bernard by Carlene Bauer The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (unavailable to order) The Mothers by Brit Bennett From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today’s episode can be found below. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading A Fine Sight to See by Sophie Hudson. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.

This week on From the Front Porch, we have a new series: Annie Recommends! In this series, Annie curates a stack of books in a certain genre or theme for you – just as if you walked into our brick-and-mortar store, The Bookshelf. Sometimes, you just want a good book list. This month, Annie recommends her favorite campus/dark academia novels and spooky reads. Plus, she’s curated two book flights for you to make your fall reading easy: a Spooky Reads Book Flight and a Dark Academia Book Flight. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 498” to find the books mentioned in this episode), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Campus Novels: We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach The Explanation for Everything by Lauren Grodstein Honorable Mentions: The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon (unavailable to order) Play for Me by Libby Hubscher Spooky Reads: Someone in the Attic by Andrea Marra The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon What Happened to Nina by Dervla McTiernan Knife River by Justine Champine Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra Annie's Spooky Reads Book Flight - $134 Annie's Dark Academia Book Flight - $89.95 From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.

This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another New Release Rundown! Annie, Erin, and Olivia are sharing the October releases they’re excited about to help you build your TBR. When you purchase or preorder any of the books they talk about, enter the code NEWRELEASEPLEASE at checkout for 10% off your order! To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (type “Episode 497” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode), or shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:   Annie's books: Book of George by Kate Greathead (10/8) This is Even After Everything by Stephanie Duncan Smith (10/15) What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci (10/15)   Olivia's books: The Last Dragon on Mars by Scott Reintgen (10/1) And He Shall Appear by Kate van der Borgh (10/1) The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak (10/8)   Erin's books: The Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer (10/8) The President's Lawyer by Lawrence Robbins (10/8) Women's Hotel by Danielle M Lavery (10/15)   From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading The X-Files: Perihelion by Claudia Gray. Olivia is reading The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents by Nicki Pau Preto. Erin is reading The Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in September. You get 10% off your books when you order your September Reading Recap Bundle. Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle, which features Annie’s favorite books she read that month. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (type “Episode 496” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Colored Television by Danzy Senna The Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer (releases 10/8) Life’s Short, Talk Fast edited by Ann Hood (releases 11/12) Intermezzo by Sally Rooney The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave Passion Project by London Sperry (releases 4/8/25) Crush by Ada Calhoun (releases 2/25/25) One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman by Abi Maxwell Circle of Hope by Eliza Griswold Annie's September Reading Recap Bundle - $77 Colored Television by Danzy Senna The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman by Abi Maxwell From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.

This week on From the Front Porch, it's an episode of Off the Shelf with Annie & Ashley! Annie is joined by friend, cousin, and former colleague, Ashley Sherlock, to chat about what they’re reading – but also what they’re watching, listening to, and buying. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 495” to find the books mentioned in this episode), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Annie is reading: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (out 9/24) The X-Files: Perihelion by Claudia Gray The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave Ashley is reading: The Match by Sarah Adams I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram The God of the Woods by Liz Moore Annie is watching: Mean Girls X-Files Emily in Paris The Perfect Couple Gilmore Girls Trap Ashley is watching: Emily in Paris Gilmore Girls Palm Springs Plus One Once Upon a Mattress Six Annie is listening to: Max Richter Working, “How to Be Both Critic and Creator” Key Life, “Has Magic Ever Been Ruined In Your Journey” Ashley is listening to: “Without You” by Lana Del Ray Annie is buying: “Life Is Pain” sweatshirt Fall essential oils Trader Joe’s pumpkin haul Ashley is buying: Bear Snacks Fall sweater from Cider Shark bracelet from Fahlo Perfect bars Shelby Van Pelt, author of Remarkably Bright Creatures, is coming to Thomasville, GA! The Bookshelf has joined the Thomas County Library to celebrate their One Book Thomas County program. For 10 years, the Thomas County Library has hosted South Georgia’s first (and only!) One Book program, where our entire community reads the same book together and celebrates that book with literary events.  The 2024 One Book Thomas County pick is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Our celebration of this beloved book will culminate in a visit from Shelby Van Pelt at the Thomasville Center for the Arts on Thursday, October 3. Tickets are just $10 and can be found in-store at The Bookshelf or online at onebookthomascounty.org. Visit onebookthomascounty.org for more details about this year’s event. We hope to see you there! From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave.  Ashley is listening to Honeybee by Dawn O'Porter (unavailable to order). If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.