Meagan's Book Club Podcast

Book lovers, this one’s for you! I’m back with my recurring book chat segment alongside my Bookstagram friend Hannah (@booksandbitesroc), and we’re breaking down the Q1 books you need on your radar. From titles we’ve already devoured to the releases we’re counting down to, this episode is packed with honest reactions, excitement, and plenty of reader-to-reader recommendations. It’s a long, cozy conversation—perfect for walks, commutes, or curling up with your favorite drink.January:The Storm by Rachel Hawkins, The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave, Skylark by Paula McLain, Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven, The Briars bySarah Crouch, Dandelion is Dead by Rosie Storey, Scavengers by Kathleen Boland, Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston, Woman Down by Colleen Hoover, A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James, My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney, The Room in the Attic by T.M. Logan, The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead, Dead in the Water by John Marrs, All the Little Houses by May Cobb, The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia, Sunk in Love by Heather McBreenFebruary:Blade by Wendy Walker, This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page, One and Only by Maurene Goo, It's Not Her by Mary Kubica, What Tomorrow Will Be by Julianne MacLean, This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman, Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson, Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra, The Jills by Karen Parkman, When I Kill You by BA Paris, Murder at 30,000 Feet by Susan Walter, Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams, The Astral Library by Kate Quinn, The Girls Before by Kate Alice Marshall, And Now, Back To You by BK BorisonMarchWait For Me by Amy Jo Burns, A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman, No Matter What by Cara Bastone, Toe to Toe by Falon Ballard, This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum, Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano, How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh, Once and Again by Rebecca Serle, Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson, Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh, Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict, The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

This week I’m joined by longtime content creator Kate Bryan, the force behind Small Things. I’ve been following Kate since her early hair-tutorial days, and it was such a joy to finally sit down with someone who has been educating, inspiring, and entertaining her audience since 2011.We talk about how she’s kept content fun and fresh for over a decade, her journey into reading more since 2020, and the books that have shaped her reading life. Of course, we couldn’t resist swapping recommendations—both in the beauty world and in the book world. Kate also shares her biggest hits and misses of the year.It was such an easy, energizing conversation, and I can’t wait for you to listen. We had the best chat! You can find Kate on Instagram @k8_smallthings and her website: www.thesmallthingsblog.comKate's Recommendations:Conditioner- Pureology Hydrate Brushing hair before showers Wide tooth comb to brush hair after the shower Spend the money on the base layer for your skin ie concealer, foundationBooks RecsWe Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter One True Loves by TJRCarrie Soto is Back by TJRThis Tender Land by William Kent Krueger Book MissesThe Favorites by Layne FargoAll the Colors of the Dark by Chris WhitakerThe Silent Patient by Alex MichaelidesGreat Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

This episode is basically a cozy, tell-all chat. I asked you for questions and you delivered—life stuff, bookish favorites, church, relationships, all of it. I’m sharing honestly about where I’m at right now, things I hope to focus on as I approach 40, and what’s on my heart as we head into a new year. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, I’m joined by bestselling author Jennifer Niven to talk all about her newest novel, Meet the Newmans, out now. Set in the 1960s, the book is inspired by Jennifer’s lifelong love of the era and her fascination with characters who hide behind carefully crafted masks. And what better lens for that than a picture-perfect TV family? We dive into the inspiration behind the story, the allure of mid-century America, and Jennifer’s incredible author journey across nonfiction, historical fiction, YA, and now adult fiction. She was an absolute delight to chat with, and I loved every minute of this conversation. EXTRA CONTENT: there is a 5 minute audiobook sample at the end of our chat, so make sure to tune in and hear Marin Ireland narrate Meet the Newmans. Find Jennifer: https://www.jenniferniven.com/IG: @jennifernivenUS Tour Dates:1/7- The Strand, NY,NY1/8- Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC1/12- St Charles City-County Library, St Charles, MO1/13- Books and Books, Coral Gables, FL1/14- BookPeople, Austin, TX1/16- The Grove Barnes & Noble, Los Angeles, CA

This final episode of the year feels especially meaningful. I’m reflecting on a year of reading that brought comfort, challenge, and so many moments of connection. These books met me in different seasons of the year, and looking back on them now feels like revisiting who I was while reading them. I’ve included the full list in the show notes so you can easily explore each title and reflect on your own year of reading, too.As I wrap up the final episode of the year, I want to take a moment to say thank you for supporting me and this podcast. Every listen, every kind message, every recommendation you’ve shared has meant more than I can put into words. This year of the podcast wouldn’t have been what it was without you.My Top 25 of 2025🎧 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans🎧 Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall🎧 Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell🎧 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy🎧 The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano 🎧 Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir🎧 Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson🎧 The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony🎧 The Bright Years by Sarah DamoffForever and Back by Ashley Manley Every Beautiful Mile by Ashley Manley🎧 The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Harnett🎧 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri🎧 How to Read a Book by Monica Wood🎧 The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin HarmelThe Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion SERIES🎧 These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLeanIt’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan🎧 Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey🎧 Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman🎧 The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick🎧 Buckeye by Patrick Ryan🎧 Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven🎧 Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid🎧 The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman