PODCAST · arts
The Jolly Reader
by Maria
This may not be an audiobook, but it is a whimsical podcast where I recap and react to young adult murder mystery books, one unhinged chapter at a time. I break books down chapter by chapter, full of spoilers, bad jokes, and big opinions. I also chat with authors and share bookish chaos on social media.
Episodes
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Bonus | Rachel Peterson | Author Interview
I sit down with Rachel Peterson to discuss her YA thriller, Killing Sadie. We talk about the inspiration behind the story, creating complex characters, balancing suspense with emotional depth, and the writing process that brought this mystery to life. Rachel also shares what it's like writing...
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Nothing More to Tell | ch. 30-44
In this episode, we finish Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus, covering Chapters 30–44 (Pages 238–356). Brynn's investigation into Mr. Larkin's murder finally reaches its conclusion as long-hidden secrets, overlooked clues, and unexpected connections come together. Between a terrifying…
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Nothing More to Tell | Ch. 15–29
In this episode we discuss Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus, covering Chapters 15–29 (Pages 117–237). Brynn continues investigating the murder of her former teacher, Mr. Larkin, as new evidence and long-buried secrets begin surfacing around Saint Ambrose School. As Brynn and Tripp uncover…
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Bonus | Randi Smith | Author Interview
In this episode, I sit down with Randi Smith to discuss her debut YA novel Ada Holloway's Had Enough. The story follows high school senior Ada Holloway after a book she needs for a final essay is suddenly banned by her town’s mayor. Frustrated by censorship and tired of staying quiet, Ada starts…
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Nothing More to Tell | Ch. 1-14
In this episode of The Jolly Reader Podcast, we’re starting Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus, covering Part 1: Chapters 1–14 (pages 1–116). Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School after her favorite teacher, Mr. Larkin, was murdered—and her best friend, Tripp Talbot, became one of...
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Last Seen Leaving Part 3
In this episode of The Jolly Reader Podcast, we’re wrapping up Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig, covering Part 3: Chapters 21–29 (pages 218–324). The mystery surrounding January’s disappearance finally reaches its breaking point as Flynn gets closer than ever to the truth. Every secret,...
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Last Seen Leaving Part 2
We continue Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig, covering Chapters 10–20 (pages 99–217). January is still missing, the investigation is heating up, and Flynn is quickly learning that the story everyone thinks they know about his relationship might not match reality. As police questions intensify…
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Last Seen Leaving Part 1
We are starting the book Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig, covering Chapters 1–9 pages 1-98. When Flynn’s girlfriend January disappears without a trace, he becomes one the last person to see her alive, and immediately the spotlight turns on him. The police have questions. The town has opinions....
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Five Survive Part 3
The road trip officially goes off the rails. In this episode, we finish Five Survive by Holly Jackson, covering chapters 31–40 (pages 264–386). Someone is kicked out of the RV, shots are fired, and it becomes clear that the most dangerous threats may not be outside at all. The title of this book…
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Five Survive Part 2
We’re back in the RV with even more tension, more secrets, and yes, still six people… for now. In part two of Five Survive by Holly Jackson, we’re covering chapters 17–30 (pages 128–263), and the paranoia is getting real. Allegiances are shifting, trust is evaporating, and the group's “plan” is...
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Bonus | Katie Bernet | Author Interview
🎙️ Author Interview: Katie Bernet | Beth Is Dead Little Women reimagined in this twisty, emotional thriller about sisterhood, secrets, and murder.... In this special interview episode of The Jolly Reader, I sit down with debut author Katie Bernet to talk all things Beth Is Dead, the inaugural...
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Five Survive Part 1
We’re kicking off Five Survive by Holly Jackson, and things are already going off the rails. In this episode, I break down chapters 1-16 (pages 1–127), where six friends on a spring break road trip find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere… with a flat tire, no signal, and a lurking sense...
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Seven Dirty Secrets Part 3
Seven Dirty Secrets – Part Three: Chapters 21–31 (Pages 210–313) Alright crew… it’s the final stretch, and the chaos is peaking. In this episode, we’re tackling the last section of Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards and everything we thought we knew is getting turned upside down. Secrets...
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Seven Dirty Secrets Part 2
Part 2: Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards (Chapters 10-20 / Pages 98–209) In this episode, we dive into the second half of Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards, and let’s just say: the paranoia is rising, the clues are coming in fast, and the trust levels are at an all-time low....
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Seven Dirty Secrets | Ch. 1-9
Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards, Chapters 1–9 (Pages 1–97). The mystery begins when Cleo receives an anonymous scavenger hunt on her eighteenth birthday, forcing her and her friends to revisit the tragic rafting accident that changed their lives a year earlier. What starts as a strange...
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This is Why We Lie Part III
Part 3: This Is Why We Lie by Gabriella Lepore (Pages 204–312) In this episode, we dive into the heart-pounding final chapters of This Is Why We Lie! Secrets come to a head as we finally discover who didn’t make it out of the second “incident” down at the harbor, and the truth about the…
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This is Why We Lie Part II
The mystery deepens in Part 2 of This Is Why We Lie! In this episode, we unravel the secrets hidden beneath the surface of both Preston Prep and Rookwood Reform School. As the investigation into Colleen's death intensifies, lies start to crack and the truth is messier than anyone expected. Join…
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This is Why We Lie Part I
In this episode, we dive into the first 100 pages of This is Why We Lie by Gabriella LePore! Meet Jenna, the ambitious student journalist from Preston Prep, and Adam, a student at the nearby correctional school, Rookwood. As a mysterious death rocks their coastal town, secrets begin to bubble...
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You'll Be the Death of Me Part III
It's the third and final video covering the book You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M McManus. Mateo, Ivy, and Cal finally discover who is behind the death of their classmate Boney. The mystery is solved but will there be a happy ending for this trio....not quite. I highly encourage you to read...
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You'll Be the Death of Me Part II
So much is happening in You'll Be the Death of Me Part 2! Mateo and Ivy are on a relationship rollercoaster. They find a mysterious note to Ms. Jameson signed by an unknown person going by D. The biggest question for this section is how everyone is connected??? I highly encourage you to read…
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You'll Be the Death of Me Part I
In this Karen M. McManus mystery Ivy, Mateo, and Cal decide to take a Ferris Bueller's Day Off when they discover the body of one of their classmates in an abandoned apartment building. There are plenty of mysteries to be solved in part one of this story including but not limited to, who is Cal's...
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As Good As Dead Part III
We made it!! Finally we are finishing the series A Good Girls Guide to Murder with Part 3 of As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson. Does Pip get away with it or will she and her friends spend the rest of their days either living in fear or in jail? If you need a good laugh you can find me on social...
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As Good As Dead Part II
It's Part 2 of As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson and we find out who the DT Killer is! We still have 1/3 of the book left too. I was surprisingly frustrated with this section but it made for a good episode. I hope you all enjoy it. I started a Patreon with even more content!...
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As Good As Dead Part I
We made it to As Good As Dead the finale to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Series by Holly Jackson! Pip is back at it but this time she has to save herself in order to save herself. She is struggling with some major PTSD from the events of the last book and now she has a stalker of her very own…
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Good Girl, Bad Blood Part III
It's the big finale of Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson! We find out what happened to Jamie and it is absolutely not what you think. Pip saves the day...kind of because someone doesn't make it out alive! Check out book two for yourself! https://amzn.to/3U2lCMu If you need a good laugh you…
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Good Girl, Bad Blood Part II
Things are heating up in the second part of Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson. Jamie is still missing and we seem to be getting more questions than answers. What was the knife for? Who is Layla Mead? and of course WHERE THE HECK IS JAMIE?!? Check out book two for yourself!...
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Good Girl, Bad Blood Part I
Let's get into the sequel to a good girl's guide to murder. Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson Jaime Reynolds is missing and the police aren't interested in investigating the disappearance of this 24 year old. Pip and her now boyfriend, Ravi, are on the case. Could this have anything to do…
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A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Part III
Pip finally solves the mystery of the murder of Sal and what really happened to Andi in Part III of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. The real question is how many people were involved in these crimes...1? 2? maybe even the whole suspect list. I highly recommend this book....
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A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Part II
Part II of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is Crazzzzy! Pip finds more lies, threats and a topless photo! Lots I mean lots of information is in this episode. You aren't going to want to miss it. I highly recommend this book. https://amzn.to/3xhGBkD If you need a good laugh you can...
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A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Part I
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson Five years ago Andie Bell went missing and her boyfriend Sal is the main suspect after he committed suicide a few days after her disappearance. Now Pippa is determine to prove that Sal was innocent by using her senior project as an excuse to...
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Goosebumps: One Day At HorrorLand
Since it is almost Halloween it is going to be a throwback to the 1994 book Goosebumps: One Day At HorrorLand by R.L. Stine The Morris family gets lost and ends up at the amusement park HorrorLand. Will one of these rides be their last? Read it for yourself! https://amzn.to/3BcGacz If you need a...
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The Box in the Woods Part III
If you are ready for another sassy episode I got you covered. We finish up the book The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson, and you literally won't be able to guess the ending. Like it is straight out of left field with no hints leading up to it. Color me disappointed but it does make for a…
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The Box in the Woods Part II
This episode might be short but I promise you someone dies! That is the best part of this section and it gets us one step closer to finishing the book. Part II covers the very dragged out middle section of The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson. Read this if you dare. https://amzn.to/3d5Tmry If...
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The Box in the Woods Part I
She's Back!!!! In The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson, Stevie is back (I am not sure if that is a good thing) to investigate a quadruple murder that happened at a summer camp in the 1970s. This book really gets to the murder fast and it is not an episode you are going to want to miss. Read…
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One of Us is Next Part III
Buckle your seatbelts because there is not one but two twist endings in One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus! Did you figure out who Darkestmind and Bayview2020 are? Even if you think you solved the mystery I promise you want to stick around for the very end! This was a great read and I highly...
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One of Us is Next Part II
In Episode II covering One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus, it is revealed who didn't survive the game of Truth or Dare. Additionally, we get a very awkward truth and some romance...the biggest of who cares. Next time we will be finishing up this book and hopefully have all our questions...
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One of Us is Next Part I
Captain Book is back covering the first part of One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus! The sequel to One of Us is Lying is coming in hot with a risky game of truth or dare, and the puppet master is an unknown texter. So far two dares and a truth have been taken and Maeve is up next....Tick Tock...
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One of Us is Lying Part III
It's the final episode covering One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus! There are multiple arrests, an awkward first date, and a twisted plot revealed. This has been on of my favorite books I have covered and I hope you enjoyed it too! The next three episodes I will be covering the sequel of this...
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One of Us is Lying Part II
Welcome to Part II of One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus We have several things to look forward to including but limited to... a breakup, two important makeouts, more tumbler posts, and Cooper's real secret! This episode brings us closer to finding out what truly happened to Simon, but one...
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One of Us is Lying Part I
This episode covers Part I of the book One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus. There is a death, a break-up, lots of rumors, a conspiracy theory, and a bearded dragon named Stan Lee. Five students enter detention but only four of them make it out alive... Go read this book!…
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The Cheerleaders Part III
We wrap up the book The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas in this episode. We find out the truth about the car accident, double murder, and Jen's suicide. As an added bonus I summarize last episode in cheer form. It is awkward and amazing! I hope you enjoyed this voyage with Captain Book. Check it out...
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The Cheerleaders Part II
It's Part II of The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas! This episode we keep getting more and more information that suggests the car accident, murders, and suicide from five years ago may actually be related. I am not fully convinced but I do talk about all my crazy theories at the end of the episode. I...
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The Cheerleaders | Ch. 1–8
In this episode, we cover Chapters 1–8 (Pages 1–121) of The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas. Five years after the deaths of five cheerleaders rocked the town of Sunnybrook, Monica is still trying to make sense of what happened, especially when it comes to her sister, Jen. After discovering Jen's old...
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The Cousins | Ch. 17–26
In this episode, we finish The Cousins by Karen M. McManus, covering Chapters 17–26 (Pages 215–321). The mystery surrounding the Story family finally comes together as Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah uncover the truth behind the family scandal that changed everything years ago. The meaning of the...
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The Cousins | Ch. 9–16
In this episode, we cover Chapters 9–16 (Pages 120–214) of The Cousins by Karen M. McManus. What looks like a relatively short section quickly turns into one of the wildest parts of the book so far. As Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah continue investigating the Story family's past, new information begins...
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The Cousins | Ch. 1–8
In this episode, we cover Chapters 1–8 (Pages 1–119) of The Cousins by Karen M. McManus. Three estranged cousins, Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story accept an unexpected invitation from the wealthy grandmother who disinherited their parents years ago. As they arrive on Gull Cove Island for the…
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The Hand on the Wall | Ch. 14–28
In this episode, we finish The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson, covering Chapters 14–28 (Pages 180–368). As Stevie Bell closes in on the truth behind the Truly Devious case, the secrets surrounding Ellingham Academy finally begin to unravel. Long-buried answers, hidden motives, and the truth...
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The Hand on the Wall | Ch. 1–13
In this episode, we begin The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson, covering Chapters 1–13 (Pages 1–179). As Stevie Bell gets closer to uncovering the truth behind the Truly Devious case, Ellingham Academy is thrown into chaos when a snowstorm traps students on campus. With tensions rising, new...
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The Vanishing Stair | Ch. 13–25
In this episode, we finish The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson, covering Chapters 13–25 (Pages 197–369). Stevie Bell continues digging into the Truly Devious case as new clues, hidden tunnels, and dangerous discoveries bring her closer to the truth surrounding Ellingham Academy. As tensions…
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The Vanishing Stair | Ch. 1–12
In this episode, we begin The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson, covering Chapters 1–12 (Pages 1–196). After the events of Truly Devious, Stevie Bell returns to Ellingham Academy determined to continue investigating the famous cold case despite growing tension around campus. As new clues begin...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This may not be an audiobook, but it is a whimsical podcast where I recap and react to young adult murder mystery books, one unhinged chapter at a time. I break books down chapter by chapter, full of spoilers, bad jokes, and big opinions. I also chat with authors and share bookish chaos on social media.
HOSTED BY
Maria
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Jolly Reader have?
The Jolly Reader currently has 61 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Jolly Reader about?
This may not be an audiobook, but it is a whimsical podcast where I recap and react to young adult murder mystery books, one unhinged chapter at a time. I break books down chapter by chapter, full of spoilers, bad jokes, and big opinions. I also chat with authors and share bookish chaos on social...
How often does The Jolly Reader release new episodes?
The Jolly Reader has 61 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Jolly Reader?
You can listen to The Jolly Reader on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Jolly Reader?
The Jolly Reader is created and hosted by Maria.
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