pleasure reading: curated book lists + tbrs with friends

You may not know this about me… but I love tarot. I’ve been working with the cards for a decade, and I have another podcast all about it, called my tiny tarot practice.

I’ve read a ton of tarot books (and bought even more tarot decks), and in this episode I’m sharing my four favorites — the books I return to over and over again as I connect with myself and the cards.

Tune in as I recommend:

This spring on my podcast Off the Grid we did a whole series on AI. Part of that series included a reading list... which felt perfect to bring over to Pleasure Reading!

So today I'm sharing the 7 books that shaped my perspective on AI and helped me reclaim my creative attention in the process:

I also (finally!) tell you about my own book — Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Med...

Wanna go down a sunken book rabbit hole with me? 🤿

In this episode, I tell you the story of why I spent the past four months reading underwater books... including my fave shipwreck, cave-diving, and sea creature reads that I now highly recommend.

For the first time in pleasure reading history, I also include movie, tv, and podcast recommendations! Because this underwater theme truly took over my entire media landscape. 🪸

Find all the books here: https://bookshop.org/lists/underwater-horror-thriller-sci-fi-recs

Find all the movies here: https://letterboxd.com/ameliaaaaaaaphd/list/underwater-freaks-like-me/

Today I welcome a dear friend and fellow podcaster to the show — Caro Griffin!

Caro is the host of Between Drinks podcast and newsletter  — where she shares her international travels and recounts the history of different beverages. You should definitely subscribe to her newsletter and tune in on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen.

In this conversation, Caro shares her five favorite books about alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages. We also explore the story of the woman behind champagne, why coffee was almost illegal, the global impact of Coca-Cola, and the many reasons we love cocktail bars.

...

Spring has sprung, and I'm getting ready to plant my garden! 🪏

I love growing food in my backyard, but it can be expensive to invest in seeds, beds, dirt and more. So over the past few months, I've been researching low-cost gardening methods.

Here are my four fave books I've found so far (affiliate links):

 
More from Amelia:
📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph
📝 Send...

Happy Galentine's Day, pleasure readers!

Today I'm sharing 10 brand new romance releases just in time for your weekend reading.

We've got sports romance, sapphic romance, celebrity romance, enemies-to-lovers, chronic pain cuties, and more — set across the US, Europe and Latin America.

Find all the books here, and have a romantic weekend! xoxo

 
More from Amelia:
📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph
📝 Send me a message
📚 Shop my used books on Pango
🎁 Gift me a book from my Bookshop wishlist

It's almost Valentine's Day! And my sweetheart reading is in full swing to celebrate.

In this episode, I'm sharing my five fave romance writers — who I think are woefully underrated.

Tune in to hear me rave about Lizzy Dent, TJ Alexander, Talia Hibbert, Naina Kumar, and Falon Ballard. I'll talk about my fave books, upcoming releases, and more.

Find all the books here, and have a romantic week! xoxo

 
More from Amelia:
📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph
📝 Send me a message
📚 Shop my used books on Pango
...

Happy 2026, readers!

Last year, I made some biggggg reading plans and proceeded to accomplish... none of them.

(I'm looking at you 2025 5-star TBR. 👀)

So this year, I'm lowering the bar, embracing my inner mood reader, and thinking about books differently.

Tune in to this quick episode, where I share my 2026 reading plans and the process I'm using to build themed TBRs for the year ahead.

I also build a few TBRs for us! On the themes of Palestinian liberation, the astrophysics of time loops, and reasons to hate Big Tec...

Happy New Years Eve, readers! In this comeback episode, I'm sharing quick-hit reviews of all the books I've read since September.

Tune in for Parisian magicians, murderous influencers, werewolf romantics, gay hockey players (yes, I got into Heated Rivalry...), and more!

I also talk a bit about my TBR failures, how many books I read this year (123!), and my reading goals for 2026.

Find all the books right here: https://bookshop.org/lists/pleasure-reading-fall-2025

 
More from Amelia:
📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph
📝 Send me a message
📚 Shop my us...

Fall is my favorite season for reading, because I love cozy blankets, warm lattes, and books that make me feel some kind of way.

In this episode, I’m sharing books for my 3 fave fall feelings: cozy, sexy, and spooky. 🧶💄👹

It’s a Libra & Scorpio season adventure, full of amazing reads that just came out this year!

ALSO! I just published a new book of my own. It’s called Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media, and you can pick up a paperback or an ebook right here.

Recommended Books (with aff...

OK it's been a minute since I made an episode... but I promise I've been reading!

In fact, I've read 47 books since the end of March, and I have plenty to say about them.

So get cozy, press play, and tune in to let these 60-second reviews wash over you. There's everything from age-gap romance to cerebral mysteries to weirdo body horror. Plus I found three 5-star reads this summer!

Find all the books here: https://bookshop.org/lists/pleasure-reading-spring-summer-2025

 
More from Amelia:
📖 Follow what I'm reading on Stor...

Let’s get spicy this summer! This month on the pod, I’m sharing my current TBR that’s full of sweet and sexy queer romance novels.

Tune in to hear me rave about Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and then to share how these 10 other romances landed on my bedside book stack.

Recommended Books (with affiliate links):

Pull out your mood rings, because this week we're reading by vibes!

Today I'm returning to the pod with an extra special guest, Rachel Ropeik.

Rachel is a cultural catalyst and pirate who works with equal parts wisdom and whimsy. From navigating the halls of the Guggenheim, the Brooklyn Museum, and MoMA to setting sail as a consultant changemaker, she blends thoughtful disruption and playful innovation in work with both cultural organizations and individuals.

Rachel reached out to me this spring to ask if we could chat about our different reading styles...

Today we've got our second ever nonfiction list, and it's all about TIME! 

Tune in to hear how I've been reimagining the clock with the help of these four books. Then find the (affiliate) links below to purchase them for yourself.

 
🕰️ Recommended Books

 
More from Amelia:
📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph
📝 Send me a message
📚 Shop my used books on Pango
🎁 Gift...

I read 13 books in February and 15 books in March. So we're gonna do another monthly reading recap!

In this episode, I'm sharing 60 second reviews of everything I read in late winter — from dark academia to light romance to my first non-fiction reads of 2025.

You can expect podcasters falling in love, goddesses rising from the dead, and sexy sacrilegious smut. I hope you enjoy!

Books mentioned in this episode:
Their Vicious Games by Joelle Washington
Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Ace of Spades by Faridah À...

This one goes out to all my cooler-than-thou millennials tuning in — because this week I’m sharing books set in the indie sleaze scene!

If you’re not familiar with indie sleaze, think skinny jeans, sweaty clubs, early aughts attitude and bands like The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
The scene was dominate by boys-in-bands, but in my personal (admittedly nostalgic) experience the music venues were full of women! So I wanted to find books by all the girls in the crowds like me, who loved this music but maybe weren’t well-represented there.
Tune...

OMG we've got our first guest — Bailey Lang of The Writing Desk!

Bailey is a late-diagnosed neurodivergent writer, editor, and coach. Through her company, The Writing Desk, she helps businesses and authors tell stories that matter. Bailey has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember, and her favorite thing to do is talk about books and writing.

Bailey reached out to me at the end of last year, asking if we could do an episode together. She proposed that she could share a list of fiction reads with great neurodivergent re...

Poetry is perfect for liminal seasons. And I find myself craving poetic wisdom as winter drags on and slowly turns to spring.

So in this episode, I’m recommending seven recent poetry collections (released in 2023, 2024 or 2025) that are helping me feel alive right now!

These books take on a wide range of themes, tones, and poetic forms, so there’s something here for everyone. Enjoy!

📜 Recommended Books

3:00 Two Open Doors in a Field by Sophie Klahr
5:00 Instructions for Traveling West by Joy Sullivan
6:00 Gemini Gospel by Bianca Alyssa Pérez
8...

February is the shortest, darkest month. So why not go back to the most ominous place I can imagine... high school? ☠️

In this episode, I'm recommending six dark academia books that all take place in high school and are written for a YA audience. 

Tune in to hear how these academic adventures take on the more unsavory aspects of our society — addressing racism, sexism, and classism within the ivory tower and beyond. Then grab the (affiliate) links below to purchase your own copies!

 
🎓 YA Dark Academia Recs:

Happy Valentine's season, my lovely readers/listeners!

In this episode, I'm celebrating the month of ~~love~~ by sharing a curated list of 5-star romances including my all time faves, a few unexpected picks, and my February romance TBR.

We're talking about 17 romantic books in this episode — including all your fave tropes like enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity, second chance and more.

Tune in to inspire your own heartwarming reading list. Happy Valentine's Day! xoxo
 
💘 ALL TIME FAVE ROMANCE RECS

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

In Five Years by Rebecc...

I read 15 books in January. Some I loved, some I...didn't, and others I barely remember! 🙃

So let's try out a monthly reading recap. In this episode, I'm sharing 60 second reviews of everything I read this month from romance to fantasy to extreme horror.

Dragons, dancers, and time travel, oh my! I hope you enjoy!
 
Books mentioned in this episode:
Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson
Guillotine by Delilah S. Dawson
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk
All Systems Red by M...

My favorite winter activity is cozying up with a good book. And when I *really* want to embrace the dark vibes of the season, I turn to a creepy, cold-weather thriller.

So in this episode, I'm recommending three snow-drenched thrillers that I recently enjoyed reading — all of which feature blizzards, bad relationships, and twists that I never saw coming. I hope you enjoy!
 
Books recommended in this episode:

⛪️ Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
✍️ The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
❄️ Night Watching by Tracy Sierra

 
More from Amelia:
📖 Fol...

My intention for 2025 is to read fewer books and to read better books. Basically, I *really* want more 5-star reads this year, and I think I have to change up my reading habits to make that happen!

So to kick off my year in reading, I've collected 25 books I already own that I think will be 5-star reads for me. I'm calling this MY FIVE-STAR TBR (yes, that's all-caps), and in this episode I'm introducing all 25 books to you and explaining why I think they might be 5-star reads!

Tune in to hear the list...

Today I'm wrapping up our year in reading by sharing my four favorite books of 2024 and my four biggest flops — not the books I hated but the reading habits and routines that really did not work for me this year.

Tune in to hear why I loved the books I loved best and what went ... horribly wrong on my TBR over the past twelve months.
 
My Fave Reads of 2024:
🛣️ Instructions for Traveling West by Joy Sullivan
🍋 Body Work by Melissa Febos
🍷 The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
👹 Come Closer by Sarah Gran
 

 ...

Somehow I managed to read 150 books this year (?!) and in honor of this wildly unrealistic accomplishment, I decided to record a mega-episode reviewing every single one of them!
 
Tune in to hear my 30-second recap + review of all these books, featuring lots of popular romance, thriller, horror and literary fiction.

📚 And click here for a list of every single book I mentioned in this episode!
 

 
More from Amelia:
📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph
📝 Send me a message
📚 Shop my used books on Pango
🎁 Gift me a book from my Boo

As an avid holiday romance reader, I've experienced the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the genre. 🙃 So in this episode, I'm curating the three books that I think actually live up to the Christmas romance hype!
 
Tune in to learn why these three are my faves and to hear about a few honorable mentions that I recommend for certain kinds of readers. And be sure to click the (affiliate) links to gift yourself or your fave friends a copy. 
 
Books recommended in this episode:

❄️ THE CLASSIC ROMANTIC ONE — One Day in December by...

We’re heading back to school this week with five magical dark academia reads. ☠️

Each of these books features a clever cast of students facing out-of-this-world challenges — and the educational settings range from southern gothic mansions to murderous-monster-schools, including Yale University, a dragon-wielding war college and the mythical Library of Alexandria.

Tune in to hear about these eclectic, intellectual fantasies, and grab the (affiliate) links below to purchase your own copies!

 
🎓 Dark Academia Recs:

Today we dive into other peoples’ lives with this list of seven memoirs and self-help books by people I adore!

Tune in to hear how these amazing folks and their books have changed my life for the better. Then find the (affiliate) links below to purchase. These all make great gifts!

 
🔑 Memoir

 
🔑 Self-Help

This week, I’m sharing my Top 8 nonfiction reads for foodies — which includes a wide range of nonfiction genres from memoirs to essay collections to cookbooks and more!

Tune in to hear about a few delicious reads, and find the (affiliate) links below to purchase. These all make great gifts!

🍴Top 8 Nonfiction Reads for Foodies

This week, I’m sharing 13 (!!) books featuring monstrous creatures of all kinds. And I'm calling it creature features *for the girlies* because these books are all authored by non-cis-white-male writers, and they feature a diverse cast of main characters human and not-so-human.

Tune in to hear about a few fantastical reads, and grab the (affiliate) links below to purchase!

💀 Spooky Recs

 
👻 Not Spooky Recs...

This week, I’m sharing five books on my Pink Horror TBR AKA five horror reads for the gworls that all have pink covers. 💄

I also tell you a bit about my new fave audiobook by nerdy romance queen Ali Hazelwood herself. 👾

Tune in to hear about a few fun reads and grab the (affiliate) links below to purchase!

 
🎀 My Pink Horror TBR:

This week, I’m talking about Irish author Sally Rooney and ranking her popular novels from my least to most favorite. 

I also share why I think she may not be for everyone... but she absolutely is for me!

Tune in to hear about a few fun reads, then grab the (affiliate) links below to purchase.
  

♟️ Sally Rooney chronologically:

 
More from Amelia:
📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph
📝 Send me a message
📚 S...

This week, I’m sharing seven witchy romance series for a rose-colored spooky season. 🌹 

There are four series I've read and love, and three I've got on my TBR. I rate the ones I've read based on general witchy-ness, magical romance, spicyness & spoookiness!  🧙‍♀️ ❤️‍🔥 🌶️ 👻

Tune in to hear about a few fun reads and grab the (affiliate) links below to purchase!
  

💖 Witchy Romance Series I Recommend:

Welcome to the first episode of pleasure reading!

On this podcast, we explore the pleasure of reading through curated book lists, author rankings, and tiny chats with book-ish friends.

This week, I’m sharing my top ten recs for books about #girlboss influencers — think CEOs, social media celebrities, The-Wing-totebag-toting women, and more!

Tune in for a few fun reads to add to your TBR or to find some camaraderie around books you’ve already read. And make sure to peep the chapters to skip to a specific title, and grab the (affili...

This is a podcast about the pleasure of reading.

Tune in for curated book lists, short & sweet reviews, author rankings, guest faves & more.

If you, too, take pleasure in reading, please subscribe and share the show with a friend.

Here's to your next best book xo