Novel Pairings

165. Celebrate Novel Pairings with Chelsey and Sara with a Farewell Q&A

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For our final episode of Novel Pairings, we opened up the mailbag to answer your thoughtful listener questions. From reflections on our favorite class...

164. Brand New Books with Backlist Pairings: Summer 2025 Edition

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready to load your summer totes with compelling reads, both new and old! We're sharing our anticipated summer releases on today's episode, careful...

163. Reflections on Emma and 250 years of Jane Austen

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're wrapping up our Emma readalong with final reflections on rereading, standout themes, and Austen's legacy.  We also chat about how we're marking...

162. Emma by Jane Austen Recap Six: A Perfect Union

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we reach the culmination of Jane Austen's Emma, where secrets are revealed, relationships evolve, and characters face pivotal choices...

161. Emma by Jane Austen Recap Five: Badly Done, Emma

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we're unpacking so many juicy moments—from Frank Churchill's restless return to Highbury and the long-awaited ball at the Crown Inn...

160. Emma by Jane Austen Recap Four: Jane Fairfax & Mrs. Elton

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we're savoring the drama and intrigue of Emma, Volume Two, Chapters 9 through 18. The aftermath of the Cole's party has Emma rehashin...

159. Emma by Jane Austen Recap Three: A Mysterious Pianoforte

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this recap, we're discussing Volume Two, Chapters 1-8 of Emma by Jane Austen. In this episode, we'll explore the arrival of some intriguing new ch...

158. Emma by Jane Austen Recap Two: Matchmaking or Meddling

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this recap, we're diving into Emma by Jane Austen — covering Volume One, Chapters 10–18. Join us on Patreon for bonus content.  Emma Woodhouse...

157. Emma by Jane Austen Recap One: Handsome, Clever, and Rich

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this recap episode, we're discussing Volume One, Chapters 1-9 of Jane Austen's Emma. We take a deep dive into Emma Woodhouse's world, examining her...

156. Introducing Emma by Jane Austen

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to our Spring Season! We're reading Emma by Jane Austen as a community, and we hope you will join us. Listen to today's introduction to hear w...

155. Notable books of 2024: our bookish superlatives, reading life updates, and a little Jane Austen

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're back and kicking  off 2025 with our annual Superlatives episode. Today, we're excited to highlight stand-out books from 2024. We've got eight s...

154. Moody & Atmospheric Fall 2024 Book Releases with Backlist Pairings

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We're excited to be back in your podcast feeds to pair highly anticipated fall book releases with beloved backlist favorites. Prepare to overload your...

153. Dishing our opinions on the hottest summer books of 2023

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As the summer reading season comes to a close, we're turning our eyes to fall. With Chelsey on maternity leave, we've made some thoughtful adjustments...

152. The Custom of the Country Book One Recap

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today's recap episode, we discuss Book One of The Custom of the Country (that's chapters 1-10 if your book is not divided into books). This episode...

151. Introduction to The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is a special one! Twice a year, we choose a big bucket list classic to read together as a community. For every big book we read, Chels...

150. Ten classic novels you should read this summer

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We're taking it back to the classroom in today's episode! Chelsey and Sara reflect on their experience with high school summer reading as both student...

149. On Beauty by Zadie Smith

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're wrapping up our spring season with Zadie Smith's On Beauty, a theme-driven novel that recreates the social world of an elite liberal arts...

148. We can't wait to read these brand new summer 2024 books and backlist pairings

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for your summer TBR to pile high as we share our most anticipated titles releasing this summer! Plus, each new release that we preview in to...

147. The limits of satire & A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On today's Modern Readers episode, we're placing "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift in context with pieces of contemporary political satire. We'll ...

146. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, we're discussing The Importance of Being Earnest by the ever-delightful Oscar Wilde. A classic example of British theater, this pl...

145. Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare with Traci Thomas

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We're thrilled to welcome back Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks Podcast, for a thought-provoking discussion on one of Shakespeare's darkest comedies, ...

144. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If aesthetics, British aristocracy and nostalgia sounds like an appealing combination, Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh is the book for you. In to...

143. Seasonal book pairings for new releases in spring 2024

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Chelsey and Sara share their most anticipated spring book releases paired with backlist selections. After  listening today, your TBR will be f...

142. The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, we're wrapping up Wharton in Winter with a conversation about The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton. We focus on Undine and q...

141. Bookish pairings for our favorite period dramas

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Reading The Custom of the Country this winter has felt like stepping into the most lush, dramatic, and marathon-worthy period piece–so today we're s...

140. Five tips for reading television and movies with a critical lens

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today we're sharing five tips for "reading" your favorite (or least favorite) TV shows and movies. These close reading tricks will help you get more c...

139. The best, the backlist, and the buzziest books of 2023

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for our annual Superlative Soirée! (Okay, so we've never called it that before, but it fits, right?!) Today Chelsey and Sara share their fa...

138. The Garden of Forking Paths by Jorge Luis Borges

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're wrapping up the 2023 season with a final Short Story Club, this time exploring a prime example of Postmodern fiction with Jorge Luis Borges' "Th...

137. Entering Edith Wharton's Gilded Age

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wonder what it's like to attend a class at Novel Pairings University? We have a special treat for our listeners as we prepare for #WhartonInWinte...

136. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Chelsey and Sara explore TO THE LIGHTHOUSE by Virginia Woolf, investigating Woolf's intention to put "real life" on the page, analyzing her pro...

135. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're kicking off our month of Virigina Woolf with an episode exploring Woolf's dense and sprawling extended essay, "A Room of Own's Own." At just ove...

134. Blind Owl by Sadeq Hedayat

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If a dark and twisty stream of consciousness narrative in translation sounds like an intriguing read, Blind Owl by Sadeq Hedayat is perfect for you. P...

133. The modern reader's guide to historical fiction

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is the difference between literary historical fiction and "woman with her back turned on the cover" historical fiction? In today's episode of Mod...

132. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery", first published in The New Yorker in 1948, feels relevant in every decade. Whether it's discussed in the high school ...

131. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Let's discuss one of our most requested classics! Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is an eerie gothic novel with elements of mystery, fairy tale, and dome...

130. Backlist book pairings for an abundant Autumn reading season

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for your TBR pile to actually topple over as we discuss a truly abundant season of publishing and books. The fall publishing calendar has a ...

129. What is public scholarship?

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

  You may have heard us mention the term "public scholarship" when talking about the mission of our podcast and our community of readers here at Nove...

128. Hot takes on the buzzy books of last summer

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we're sharing our (sometimes controversial) opinions about some of the buzziest books of LAST summer. We love it when our reading overlaps off t...

127. 1920s classics to challenge and delight your To Be Read list

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're sharing six classic titles from the 1920s that make excellent additions to your late summer or early fall reading stack, whether you're r...

126. Leaving a Legacy: The Odyssey in modern literature

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's the last stretch of our Slow Down Summer with The Odyssey, and for this week's discussion, we're sharing final thoughts on The Odyssey's staying ...

125. How to find literary allusions

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you love the feeling of happening upon a subtle reference to a great literary work in the midst of your current read? Or do you feel like you're on...

124. Diving into The Odyssey with Emily Wilson

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This summer on Patreon, our Classics Club has been voyaging across the Aegean Sea with Odysseus, reading Emily Wilson's brilliant translation of Homer...

123. The Odyssey: Return to the Aegean

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are re-airing one of our very first episodes of Novel Pairings: Episode 18 on Homer's Odyssey, in which Sara reveals her nerdy middle school ...

122. The Wild Book by Juan Villoro

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're closing out our spring semester of children's classics with one final book about a book—and another richly imagined story in translation, The ...

121. Sensational summer book releases paired with satisfying backlist reads

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready to load your summer totes (ahem…your summer Novel Pairings totes, more to come on that) with lots of good reads; we're talking about our m...

120. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As voracious readers we love to dive into stories about books and reading, whether it's paying homage to the source of procuring books (think publishi...

119. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Pack your bags and get ready for an adventure. This week, we're discussing E. L. Konigsburg's Newbery award-winning novel From the Mixed-Up Files of M...

118. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anne-with-an-e Shirley, a hallmark figure in children's literature, provides a formative childhood reading experience for many readers. An imaginative...

117. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a staple in high school classrooms and a foundational piece of American literature. This children'...

116. Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Catherine, Called Birdy has been a surprise hit with our listeners and book club community, and today Chelsey and Sara share their experience with Kar...

115. Enticing spring book releases for your To Be Read list

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While we're spending most of this season discussing classic children's literature, today Chelsey and Sara break from form to share our most anticipate...

114. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chelsey and Sara discuss Mildred D. Taylor's Newberry Award winning novel, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. We gush about the writing, share our favorite...

113. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chelsey and Sara discuss The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman as individual children's classic...

112. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chelsey and Sara chat about another children's classic: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, reflecting on the difference between reading it as a k...

111. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chelsey and Sara discuss Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. This short, weird, and word play-filled story explores the "slipperiness" ...

110. Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes and stories of community, music, and home

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chelsey and Sara discuss Langston Hughes's 1930 novel: Not Without Laughter,  the story of a young boy coming of age in small-town Kansas with his ma...

109. Reading classic children's literature with Alice, Anne and Aslan

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This spring semester, we are trying something a little different. We hope you all are up for venturing into uncharted territory together as we spend a...

108. Our favorite (and least favorite) books of 2022

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we enter the towering stack of "Best Book" lists, but we like to think our annual episode stands out from the crowd. Instead of narrowing down a...

107. The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo and adapting the classics for modern readers

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join us as we discuss the sumptuous, sexy, and speculative adaptation of The Great Gatsby: The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo. We adored Vo's lan...

106. Revisit West Egg with Novel Pairings: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Readers, today we are taking it way back to September 2020 (a lifetime ago!) when we discussed The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This month's b...

105. A stack of sparkling novels set in the Roaring 20s

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In anticipation of this month's book club read, we're sharing a whole stack of novels set in the 1920s. We are giving you a little bit of everything i...

104. The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare and pairings for theatrical, political, or fantastical readers

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Chelsey and Sara discuss Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth. It's been awhile since we discussed a Shakespeare play and we're thrilled to be ...

103. Shakespearean titles to topple your To Be Read stack

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we are toppling your TBR with Shakespeare-inspired stories, retellings, and adaptations. We have ten books for you today, but there are so many...

102. Perplexed by Persuasion on Netflix

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Chelsey and Sara are discussing the new Netflix film adaptation of Persuasion starring Dakota Johnson, Cormo Jarvis, and Henry Golding. We lame...

101. Ask a Shakespeare Professor

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to Shakespeare 101! It's a perfectly fitting episode number for today as we invite a Shakespeare professor to answer YOUR questions about the ...

100. Persuasion by Jane Austen and romantic novels with plenty of pining

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's our 100th episode, readers! Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming along with us on this nerdy creative endeavor. We are immensely grateful f...

99. Literary adaptations we can't wait to read this fall

13 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to fall, readers! Today, Sara & Chelsey dive into all things adaptations: why we enjoy them, when they fall short, and how adaptations fit int...

98. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry and stories as big as Texas

30 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. This novel surprised us in the best ways, and we loved reading along with you all sum...

97. Romance in Marseille by Claude McKay and postcolonial novels to expand your world

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss Romance in Marseille by Claude McKay. We discuss the classic nature of this novel along with some of its modern elemen...

96. Must-read books of the summer paired with beach-worthy backlist titles

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's that time of year, readers! Pull out your favorite book tote and get thee to pre-ordering (or library requesting) because we've got an episode fu...

95. Love and Freindship by Jane Austen and adding pure FUN to your TBR list

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today Sara and Chelsey discuss Jane Austen's silly, ridiculous, and absolutely delightful work of juvenilia: Love and Freindship. From fainting spells...

94. Ask Us Anything with Chelsey, Sara, and a surprise guest

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How did Sara and Chelsey meet? What goes into making a Novel Pairings episode? And how do they find time to read with busy, curious babies in their li...

93. Middlemarch by George Eliot Part Two: Pairings

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today Sara and Chelsey consider Middlemarch by George Eliot through a contemporary lens with paired books about marriage, community, and time-tested a...

92. Middlemarch by George Eliot Part One

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today Sara and Chelsey check in and discuss Middlemarch by George Eliot. What does this 800-page Victorian novel have in common with Love is Blind on ...

91. Bookish superlatives from an unprecedented reading year

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After a few months off, we're back in your feeds today to discuss some of our favorite (and least favorite) books of 2021. We've organized this episod...

90. Our love/hate relationship with Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents." So begins the book that launched a million little girls' love affair with reading. While we here ...

89. Behind the scenes of the shop around the corner with Annie B. Jones

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here at Novel Pairings, if there's one thing we love almost as much as reading it's supporting independent bookstores. Today, we're re-airing an inter...

88. A new-to-us and nuanced novel of manners: There is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We love revisiting our favorite books for episodes of Novel Pairings, but there's also something truly special about finding a new-to-us classic that ...

87. Perfectly paired gifts for every bookworm

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our penchant for pairings goes far beyond books and in today's gift guide rerelease we're offering a variety of suggestions for what to give the liter...

86. Palpable tension and shocking twists in Passing by Nella Larsen

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When we first released our episode on Passing by Nella Larsen in June of 2020, we were already professing our excitement for the new movie starring Te...

85. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and perfectly psychological pairings

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. We've read this story more times than we can count—as students a...

84. Literary terms, book recommendations, and learning about the horror genre with Raelyn Torngren

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we welcome Raelyn Torngren to the podcast to educate us on the horror genre. From defining tropes to engaging in literary criticism to offering...

83. Revisiting Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This season we've been getting into the autumnal mood with Gothic short stories, Victorian fiction, and an upcoming exploration of horror literature. ...

82. How to read a BIG book: an introduction to Middlemarch by George Eliot

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In case you missed it, we're reading Middlemarch together! We're both excited (and, let's be honest) a little apprehensive about diving into George El...

81. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe and creepy fictional houses to explore

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe. This delightfully creepy story ushers in (that pun was NOT intend...

80. Forecasting our fall reading with anticipated backlist titles from our shelves

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey share the backlist books they're putting on their To Be Read lists for the next few months. We speculate on which books will c...

79. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Part Two

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss chapters 27 through the end of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. We discuss Jane's journeys from coming of age to litera...

78. Raising Readers with biblio therapist Anne Bogel

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When Chelsey and Sara found out we were both expecting new family members, literally just a few days apart, many conversations of course turned to all...

77. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Part One

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss chapters 1-26 of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. We've each read this Victorian Gothic novel multiple times, learning ...

76. Our favorite tips, tricks, and insights for reading Jane Eyre

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey share some of their favorite tips for getting the most out of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. Our tips include some general adv...

75. Wrapping up summer with our favorite reads and reflections

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey reflect on their summer reading season with short reviews of their favorite reads, and they look ahead to their upcoming fall ...

74. The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor and stories of friendship, community, and resilience

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey gush about a new favorite novel-in-short-stories: The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor. We focus on Naylor's memorable...

73. Greek mythology-inspired novels to topple your To Be Read list

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Influenced by a delightful book club discussion with Stacey Swann, author of Olympus, Texas, Chelsey and Sara share a pile of  mythology-inspired boo...

72. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and contemporary novels with plenty of drama

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Chelsey and Sara discuss a melodramatic classroom staple: A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. We relive our classroom experiences, ...

Storybound with Laurie Frankel

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We have an extra special Friday bonus episode for you! We've expressed our love for Laurie Frankel and her new book One Two Three on the podcast. Toda...

71. Superlatives for the best books of 2021 so far

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey share their favorite books of the year (so far) with a series of bookish superlatives to guide them. From most surprising to m...

70. The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton and glittering contemporary books full of social commentary

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chelsey and Sara discuss The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton*, a glittering Gilded Age classic that feels particularly relevant today. We chat about o...

69. A short story to read in one sitting this summer: The Prairie Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today in "Short Story Club," Chelsey and Sara are discussing "The Prairie Wife" by Curtis Sittenfeld. It's a quick, absorbing read about summer camp,...

68. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson and contemplative books for moody summer reading

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Chelsey and Sara discuss The Summer Book by Tove Jansson*, a contemplative and vivid book in translation about a young girl, her grandmother, a...

67. Sweeping family sagas for classic and contemporary reading tastes

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Sara and Chelsey share their favorite classic and contemporary sweeping family sagas. We recommend intergenerational stories that take place ov...