Meagan's Book Club Podcast

Surprise episode! I’m joined by my fairly newly established bestie book club—Corine, Kelsi, and Julia—for a full-spoiler discussion of The One by John Marrs. And yes, we mean full spoilers, so if you haven’t read it yet… consider this your sign to stop everything, read the book, and come back immediately.
We dive into every character, every questionable decision, and every “oh no they did NOT” moment. We unpack the impact of finding your perfect match, whether the science is a gift or a curse, and how love, loyalty, ambition, and fear collide once the results are revealed. From shocking outcomes to moral gray areas, we ask the big questions: Would you take the test?
It’s thoughtful, dramatic, occasionally unhinged, and exactly what happens when four best friends overanalyze a book that refuses to let you look away. Thanks for listening!
Next month, we will be reading Heart the Lover by Lily King.

January was a very three-star kind of reading month. I read a lot of books that were fine, enjoyable, and easy to turn the pages on—but not many that fully took my breath away. In this episode, I’m breaking down what worked, what didn’t quite hit, and why a three-star read isn’t a bad thing at all. *I forgot to mention A Good Animal which I really enjoyed! Plus, I’m sharing the few standouts that really rose to the top and are easy recommendations if you’re looking to start your year strong.

Loved
🎧 The One ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Liked
🎧 Warning Signs ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 A Good Animal ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The One Day You Were My Husband ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Keeper of Lost Children ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dolly All the Time ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Wreck ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🎧 The List of Suspicious Things ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🎧 The Midnight Taxi ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Worse Than Strangers ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🎧 This is Not About Us ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Just Okay
🎧 The Future Saints ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The One and Only Vivian Stone ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summer State of Mind ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Everyone in This Bank is a Thief ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 The Fourth Princess ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Women in White ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Anatomy of an Alibi ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meh
🎧 The Lost Ticket ⭐️⭐️💫

I am so excited about this episode because I’m joined by bestselling author Maurene Goo to celebrate her debut adult romcom, One and Only, out Today—and truly, this conversation was the best kind of fun. 💕 Maurene first made her mark writing YA, and we talk all about what she loved most about that space: staying true to teen voices, language, and experiences, and honoring how real those moments feel. From there, we dive into her pivot to adult fiction—what sparked the shift, what felt different creatively, and why romcoms felt like the right next step. Maurene is thoughtful, hilarious, and endlessly fascinating, and our chat felt like catching up with a friend. And yes… she also shared some very exciting news early with me—One and Only is the Read with Jenna February pick, and I could not be more thrilled for her. Happy reading and listening!

*Maurene also dropped the nugget that her husband's movie might be nominated for the Oscars and very casually told us he co-directed KPop Demon Hunters. You couldn't see my jaw on the floor, but yes- it was dead ass on the floor.

Substack: https://maurenegoo.substack.com/
For Tour Dates: @maurenegoo

In this episode, I’m talking all about love books — the cute ones, the devastating ones, and the ones where love gets a little… dangerous. From laugh-out-loud romcoms to rip-your-heart-out romances to thrillers fueled by obsession and secrets, I’m breaking down three types of love stories and sharing the books I can’t stop recommending. Whether you want to swoon, sob, or side-eye every character, there’s a love book here for you. Thanks for listening!

Thriller Romance:
Verity by Colleen Hoover
The One by John Marrs
The Last Mrs Parrish by Liv Constantine
Cross My Heart by Megan Collins
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
The Unraveling by Vi Keeland
Rip Your Heart Out:
Someday, Maybe by Oyni Nwabineli
The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
Romcoms:
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
Every Beautiful Mile by Ashley Manley
The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
The Love of my Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Barrie Kreinik—an award-winning audiobook narrator whose voice you’ve likely heard in some of your favorite listens. Barrie has narrated titles for Penguin Random House, Hachette, Macmillan, Harper, Podium, Blackstone, Brilliance, Audible, Tantor, and more, and her mastery of accents and dialects (especially across the British Isles) is nothing short of remarkable.
Our conversation was absolutely fascinating. Barrie walks me through her path into voice training, how she approaches character work, what goes into building authentic dialects, and the artistry behind making an audiobook truly come alive. She’s generous, insightful, and endlessly talented—and I learned so much from her.
If you’re curious about the magic behind audiobooks or you simply love hearing from people who are exceptional at what they do, you won’t want to miss this episode.

What Barrie Recommends:
-Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen
-Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon
-Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea

Audio Drama written and performed by Barrie!
-The Queen of 14th Street

Series Books Barrie has Narrated:
-Because I Could Not Stop for Death- An Emily Dickinson Mystery series by Amanda Flowers
-A Rose Gallagher Mystery book series by Erin Lindsey