Reading Between Deadlines Podcast

• Rebecca Heath Makes Us Read WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME by Gillian McAllister

  How far would you go back to save your child?This episode's pick: Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister—a Reese’s Book Club thriller where a mother sees her teenage son commit a murder… only to wake up the next day and realize she’s gone back in time. As each morning takes her further into the past, she pieces together secrets about her son, her husband, and herself. It’s a murder mystery, a time-travel puzzle, and a meditation on motherhood all rolled into one. But did the high-concept premise deliver?This week’s guest: Rebecca Heath —thriller author and laser chemist turned novelist, party wrangler, and dog lover. She’s the author of The Last Encore and three other adult novels (The Summer Party, The Dinner Party, The Wedding Party). She lives in Adelaide with her husband, three children, and border collie.In this episode, we cover:The Reese factor: hype, Lisa Jewell blurbs, and whether the book club pick lived up to expectations.That hook: a mother watches her son stab a man—and then starts living time backwards.The pacing problem: did the constant “one more day back” structure get repetitive, or was it clever plotting?Time travel, fate, and suspension of disbelief—fantasy or crime?Plot twists we didn’t see coming: missing babies, undercover cops, and suspiciously convenient husbands.The emotional punch: how McAllister balanced high concept with heart.Rebecca’s reading habits: auto-buy authors, DNFs, hype regrets, and books that made her cry (one of them was Rach’s latest - out soon!)📚 Books Mentioned on the PodAnne of Green Gables by L.M. MontgomeryBoy Swallows Universe by Trent DaltonThe Lucky Sisters by Rachael JohnsAtmosphere by Taylor Jenkins ReidThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid1984 by George OrwellRebecca’s auto-buy authors:Liane MoriartyTaylor Jenkins ReidJane HarperGillian McAllistarLucy FoleyEvery author Rebecca knows 😊💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?Which way did the votes fall? You’ll have to listen in…⏰ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: meet guest author Rebecca Heath04:00 – Setting up Wrong Place Wrong Time (and the Reese factor)08:00 – Gillian McAllister’s bio and book accolades11:00 – Kiss, Kill, or Marry verdict14:00 – Clever concept vs. pacing problems19:00 – Time travel, disbelief, and the “mum strength” theory24:00 – Plot Twists29:00 – Craft chat: avoiding clever-for-clever’s-sake32:00 – Rebecca’s reading life: DNFs, recommendations, hype regrets37:00 – Crying at Rachael Johns and TJR41:00 – What we’re reading next Get full access to Reading Between Deadlines at readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe

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• We Read BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall

  Did Broken Country live up to the hype?This episode's pick: Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall — a Reese’s Book Club favourite that’s been compared to The Paper Palace and Where the Crawdads Sing. It’s got love, loyalty, guilt, and a courtroom drama at its heart… but did it win us over?In this episode, we cover:Why this book caught our attention (and everyone else’s)How hype and word-of-mouth shaped our expectationsLove triangles: satisfying tension or too much drama?The role of setting, class, and family in driving the storyOur very different reactions to the main characterHow tragedy and loyalty are woven through the narrativeThe structure: past vs present, and how it builds suspense💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?⏰ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: travel tales, hotel room hijinks, and book club catch-ups03:00 – Book reveal: Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall05:00 – Why this pick + hype factor (Reese’s Book Club, bestseller lists)08:00 – Author bio + past works10:30 – Goodreads stats + ratings snapshot12:00 – Our Kiss, Kill, Marry ratings reveal14:00 – First impressions and what hooked us20:00 – Themes of loyalty, love, and loss28:00 – Thoughts on setting and style34:00 – Side characters that stood out37:00 – What other readers think: quickfire reviews40:00 – Would we read Claire’s next book? Get full access to Reading Between Deadlines at readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe

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• Pamela Cook Makes Us Read STATE OF WONDER by Ann Patchett

  Jungle fever or just fever dream?This episode's pick: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett—a literary thriller set in the Amazon, complete with pharmaceutical intrigue, moral dilemmas, and one very unfortunate snake encounter. It’s lush, layered, and filled with anacondas, tarantulas, and questionable fertility science. But did it live up to the hype?This week’s guest: Pamela Cook —author, podcaster, and teacher. Pam writes contemporary women’s fiction that digs into relationships and psychology. She’s published six novels (traditionally and indie), hosts the Writes4Women podcast, and teaches through her business Wild Words. She also rides horses, wrangles dogs, and somehow finds time to keep her TBR stack alive.In this episode, we cover:Why State of Wonder felt both “plotty” and literary—and why that’s rare for Patchett.The infamous anaconda boat scene (aka: the nightmare fuel we’ll never forget).Fertility science, pharmaceutical greed, and the ethics of 73-year-olds having babies.The big twist: Anders is alive (!), but was it too convenient?The controversial ending—trauma sex, bark chewing, and possible surprise pregnancies.The unanswered question: who’s the father of Dr. Svensson’s baby?Desert Island picks, DNFs, hype regrets, and why Pam cries at Emily Henry.📚 Books Mentioned on the PodAnn Patchett:State of WonderTom LakeThe Dutch HouseCommonwealthBel CantoOther fiction faves:The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley HellerWhere the Crawdads Sing by Delia OwensThe Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly RinglandBook Lovers by Emily HenrySeven Skins of Esther Wilding by Holly RinglandAtmosphere by Taylor Jenkins ReidThe Nightingale by Kristin HannahRebecca by Daphne du MaurierPam’s Auto-buy Authors:Emily HenryHannah RichellAnn PatchettTaylor Jenkins Reid💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?Which way did the votes fall? You’ll have to listen in…⏰ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: meet Pamela Cook, our guest author04:00 – How State of Wonder came to be (and the Big Magic story)08:50 – Kiss, Kill, or Marry verdict13:00 – Fertility, pharma, and Patchett’s plot power18:00 – Anacondas, tarantulas, and nightmare fuel22:00 – The Anders twist—too neat or just right?25:00 – The controversial ending (trauma bonding or life affirmation?)28:00 – Who’s the father? Milton, Easter… frozen sperm??32:00 – Writing craft: seamless backstory, moral dilemmas, and jungle research37:00 – Pam’s DNF rules, hype regrets, and wish-I’d-written titles42:00 – Guilty pleasures, crying at Emily Henry, and auto-buy authors45:00 – What we’re reading next—and why no one’s going to the Amazon anytime soon Get full access to Reading Between Deadlines at readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe

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• We Read ATMOSPHERE by Taylor Jenkins Reid

  Is this space book really about space?This episode's pick: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid—a book that is rumoured to have made her an $8 million dollar advance but may have come at the price of her personal privacy. Part space epic, part love story, part unbelievable side characters and strange snacks. We blast off into TJR’s most interesting book yet. In this episode, we cover:Why Atmosphere is a love story that took us by surpriseHow the high stakes created good tensionWhy we felt we were ‘told’ how the secondary characters felt about each otherWas Joan just too goody-two-shoes for us?How difficult being gay would have been for two female astronautsWas it media or reader pressure that forced TJR to come out as bisexual around the time of the novel’s release?💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?⏰ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: hair disasters, Kununurra trip, The Lucky Sisters tease03:02 – Book reveal: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (spoilers)05:51 – Why this pick + TJR reading history08:58 – TJR bio theory + Goodreads stats10:27 – Quickfire worst reviews12:09 – Kiss, Kill, Marry ratings reveal14:53 – Our ratings explained18:18 – Ending breakdown + epilogue debate24:18 – 1980s setting, taboo love, NASA culture28:01 – Gender politics in space31:00 – Romance vs love story discussion📖 Coming up next: 🎽 Do you read between deadlines too? Grab the merch☕ If you’re loving the show, we’d be so grateful if you’d buy us a coffee (or a prosecco). It helps keep the pod fun, frequent, and free.👉Next Ep we’re chatting to Pamela Cook about State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. Get full access to Reading Between Deadlines at readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe

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• Kim Lock Makes Us Read YEAR OF WONDERS by Geraldine Brooks

  Maeve Binchy’s Evening Class—comfort fiction or structural masterclass?This week, bestselling author Tess Woods joins us to discuss her all-time favourite Maeve Binchy novel: Evening Class. It’s a quiet, sprawling book with no clear protagonist, barely a plot, and somehow...it works.In this episode, we explore:- Why “quiet” doesn’t mean boring- The weirdly satisfying moment when a character locks her mum in the bathroom- How Maeve’s “everyday” prose masks big emotional arcs- What makes a book comforting enough to reread- The surprising real-life person Tess became friends with because of this novelPlus:💋 We rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?📚 Book recs from Tess, including The Bridges of Madison County, Looking for Alibrandi, and The Paper PalaceNext up: The Names by Florence Knapp Get full access to Reading Between Deadlines at readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe

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