Episodes
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Brief Encounters Series: The Man Behind the Pulitzer Prize was a Chaos Agent
In today's Brief Encounters, we explore the Pulitzer Prize — and get surprised at every turn. Joseph Pulitzer shot a man in his twenties and kept his political career. He invented yellow journalism. He treated newsboys so badly there was a strike in 1899 (that's the Newsies). Then he died and…
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Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy — Our Most Uncomfortable Read Yet
Facts & Fictions goes deep on Jennette McCurdy's debut novel Half His Age — and yes, it's as uncomfortable as it sounds. Morgan gives it her lowest rating in podcast history. We discuss what McCurdy gets right, what made us squirm, and why we think this book has a very specific audience that…
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Overdue for a Chat: Yesteryear Discourse, Celebrity Book Club Drama & Why TikTok Feels Scary Now
Pull up a blanket... we're overdue for a chat! This week Morgan and Desiree catch up on the books filling their nightstands, react to the wildly polarized Yesteryear discourse (plus the Anne Hathaway co-writing reveal), debate celebrity book clubs in the wake of Oprah’s sale to Amazon, and get...
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The Book That Made Us Believers in Epistolary Fiction: THE CORRESPONDENT
This week we're diving into THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans — the runaway debut novel that's sold over a million copies, hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, won the 2026 PEN/Hemingway Award, and is officially heading to the big screen with Jane Fonda attached to star. Told entirely...
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Brief Encounters Series: 3,599 Books and a Life Well-Read
When Dan Pelzer passed away at 92, his daughter discovered something extraordinary — a handwritten log of every book he had read since 1962. All 3,599 of them. She turned it into a website and shared it at his funeral via QR code, and the reading community hasn't stopped talking about it since.…
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We Read the Book Your Burned-Out Coworker Would Write | Discontent by Beatrice Serrano
This week Desiree and Morgan are reading Discontent by Beatrice Serrano — a debut translated novel from Spain that is part workplace satire, part slow-burn existential unraveling, and entirely too relatable. We're talking about Marissa: a mid-level marketing employee in Madrid who looks fine from...
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Overdue for a Chat: Audiobooks, BookTok Drama & Upcoming Reads
We're doing something a little different this week — welcome to our first ever Overdue for a Chat episode. No book breakdown, no deep dive. Just Morgan and Desiree catching up on everything bookish that's been living rent-free in their heads. Storygraph: @desireereed @morgankline Instagram:...
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Crux
In this episode of Facts and Fictions, Desiree & Morgan are discussing Crux by Gabriel Tallent. Tallest describes the book as: “It’s about two down and out kids, one of them is good at school “American golden child,” one of them is a mouthy burnout lesbian who everyone hates because she won’t…
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The Ten Year Affair
This week on Facts and Fictions we are diving into The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers. We discuss first impressions, the characters and all of their quirks, and the slippery slope of emotional infidelity that led to a decade long affair. We explored the moral gray area of when did Cora and…
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Brief Encounters Series: The Literacy Crisis, Bibliotherapy, & AI?
In this Brief Encounters episode of Facts & Fictions, we’re diving into a few thought-provoking pieces on the state of reading today — from declining literacy rates to the rise of bibliotherapy and the growing role of AI in how we consume and create stories. What does it mean to be a reader in...
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The Midnight Library
What if you could live every version of your life?📚✨ In this episode of Facts & Fictions, we dive into The Midnight Library by Matt Haig — a genre-bending novel that blends literary fiction, speculative fantasy, and mental health exploration. We discuss Nora Seed’s journey through infinite...
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Bonus Episode: The Let Them Theory
This week on Facts & Fictions, we’re talking about The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. After taking a break from self-help books, Morgan and Desiree are diving into this viral release that’s been making waves across social media. Is “just let them” really the key to less stress and more peace—or...
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Remarkably Bright Creatures
🎙️ Facts & Fictions — Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt In this episode, Morgan and Desiree dive into Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt’s heartwarming debut novel about connection, grief, and one remarkably clever octopus. We unpack the story, discuss the themes of...
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Intermezzo
Navigating Grief and Relationships in Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo In this episode, Morgan and Desiree dive into Sally Rooney’s latest novel, Intermezzo—a poignant exploration of grief, family tension, and complicated love. The story follows brothers Peter and Ivan as they navigate life after their...
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The Wedding People
📖 The Wedding People by Alison Espach | Book Club Podcast Discussion 💍✨ This week on the pod, Desiree & Morgan dive into The Wedding People by Alison Espach! 🎉 From its sharp humor to its heartfelt exploration of love, loneliness, and unexpected connections, we break down what makes this novel...
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The Housemaid's Secret + The Housemaid is Watching (Double Episode!)
🔪 The Housemaid’s Twists Keep Coming! Let’s Talk Books 2 & 3 👀 Freida McFadden is back with more shocking twists, locked doors, and jaw-dropping secrets! In this episode, your hosts Desiree & Morgan dive into The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid is Watching—books 2 and 3 in The Housemaid...
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The Housemaid
🔪 The Housemaid by Freida McFadden – Is It Worth the Hype? In this episode, Desiree & Morgan dive into The Housemaid, the psychological thriller that’s been everywhere. We’re breaking down the jaw-dropping twists, eerie Winchester house vibes, and whether this book truly lived up to the hype. 👀...
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The Girls
In this episode, Desiree and Morgan discuss The Girls by Emma Cline, a haunting coming-of-age novel inspired by the infamous Manson family. Set against the backdrop of 1960s California, the story follows Evie Boyd, a lonely teenager drawn into the magnetic orbit of a dangerous cult. We delve into...
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Happy Place
In this episode, Desiree and Morgan dive into Emily Henry’s heartfelt and hilarious novel, Happy Place. They unpack Harriet and Wyn’s fake-dating scheme, the emotional complexities of their breakup, and whether a “happy place” can ever truly be revisited. Join us as we explore themes of love,...
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My Year of Rest and Relaxation
In this episode, Desiree and Morgan dive into Ottessa Moshfegh’s darkly compelling novel, My Year of Rest and Relaxation. Join us as we unpack the narrator’s bold, if unsettling, quest for a year-long hibernation from life in early 2000s Manhattan. We explore themes of grief, privilege,...