So Approachable

We’re heading back to 1700s Maine with The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon — a historical fiction pick that surprised us with how immersive, emotional, and twisty it turned out to be.Haven't read the book yet? Check out our preview episode: https://youtu.be/RXRMs4LsZ_UInspired by real events, this novel drops us into a world shaped by harsh winters, tight-knit communities, and a legal system that consistently failed women — even while relying on their labor and expertise. Through the lens of midwifery, we’re introduced to the quiet power women held, and the ways they were still deeply marginalized.In this Cover to Cover episode, Sarah and Jamie dive into:📜 What we learned about midwifery and women’s roles in the 1700s⚖️ Our reactions to the legal system and who actually held power❤️ Our favorite characters — and the ones who tested our patience🧩 The twisty plot and how the mystery unfoldedThis is the kind of historical fiction that pulls you in with atmosphere, then keeps you hooked with moral questions and surprising turns. If you loved stories that blend history with strong female perspectives, this one gave us a lot to talk about.🔗 If you enjoyed this discussion, check out our other historical fiction pick: The Women by Kristin Hannah — another conversation about women, power, and the stories history almost forgot.-- https://youtu.be/Jejt0gkTTwI#frozenriver #historicalfiction #bookrecs #booktubetbr #booktok #bookreview

We’re heading back into historical fiction (yes, Sarah is very happy 😉) with The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon — a book that came highly recommended by so many of you.Set in the 1700s, this novel blends history, mystery, and strong female perspective, pulling readers into a world where community, power, and truth are deeply intertwined. It’s inspired by real events, but reads in a way that feels surprisingly accessible — even if historical fiction isn’t usually your go-to.In this TLDR episode, we cover:📚 What the book is about (no spoilers!)⏳ The historical setting and overall vibe🔍 Why this story has captured so many readers💭 Who we think will love it — and who might notIf you’re curious about stepping into historical fiction, or just want to know whether The Frozen River should make it onto your TBR, this quick breakdown is the perfect place to start.Also check out our other historical fiction read: The Women by Kristin Hannah: https://youtu.be/Jejt0gkTTwI

Book vs. Netflix… and WOW.Want to chat specifically about the book? Check out our two episodes getting you prepared for Alice Feeney, and our book club discussion .Our His and Hers Netflix adaptation episode is LIVE — and y’all, this miniseries is SO different from the book. Like… from the opening scene to the very last shot. 😳Major plot changes.Big character shifts.Moments we loved, moments we hated, and a few that made us physically cringe. 😬We’re breaking it all down — what worked on screen, what didn’t, and why this adaptation felt like a completely different beast than the book.If you read His and Hers, watched the show, or just love a good book-to-screen debate, this episode is for you. 🎙️🔥Hit play, then come argue with us in the comments — because we KNOW people have opinions on this one. #HisAndHers #AliceFeeney #BookToScreen #NetflixAdaptation #SoApproachable #BookClubPodcast #ReadersOfInstagram #BookTok #PodcastCommunity #ThrillerFans

His and Hers is one of those books that stays with you — dark, unsettling, and deeply messed up in ways we weren’t prepared to revisit. And yet… we couldn’t wait to talk about it.CONTENT WARNING: This episode (and book) discusses sexual violence, grooming of minors, addiction, infant loss, animal harm, suicide, and other disturbing themes. Please take care while listening.With the Netflix miniseries adaptation launching soon, Sarah and Jamie dive back into Alice Feeney’s 2020 twisted psychological thriller to unpack what still works, what shocked us all over again, and why this story hits so hard.Sarah read this book five years ago and completely forgot the twist (a blessing and a curse 😅), while Jamie went full detective mode — theorizing, connecting dots, and putting her journalistic experience to the test.In this Cover to Cover conversation, we get into:🧠 The unreliable narrators and shifting perspectives🔍 Jamie’s theories vs. Sarah’s blind re-read experience💔 The heavy themes that make this book so difficult — and so impactful📺 What we’re most curious (and nervous) to see in the Netflix adaptationRead with care. Listen with intention. And yes… we’ll absolutely be back to talk about how the miniseries handles that ending. #booktok #bookreview #readersofinstagram #booktubetbr #bookclubdiscussion #thrillerreads

Goodbye Christmas cheer… hello twisty, tense, and unsettling. 😈We’re kicking off the new year with His and Hers by Alice Feeney — Sarah’s pick and a major switch in gears from cozy holiday mystery to full-on psychological thriller. In this spoiler-free TLDR episode, we break down what you need to know before diving in: the premise, the dual perspectives, and why this book keeps readers second-guessing everyone.This is a dark, layered whodunnit packed with unreliable narrators, buried secrets, and the kind of tension that makes you say, “Just one more chapter…” at midnight.📺 Bonus hype: His and Hers is being adapted into a Netflix limited series, and you know we’ll be back with a book-to-screen comparison once it drops.If you’re ready to trade festive banter for sharp edges and psychological suspense, this is the perfect way to start the year. Listen to the TLDR, read along, and come back for the full discussion.#HisandHers #AliceFeeney #bookreview #psychologicalthriller #netflixadaptation #booktomovie

We rang in New Year’s Day at the movie theater with The Housemaid — the VERY FIRST book we ever covered on the podcast and now a full-blown movie moment. 🥂--Time travel to our early episodes--TLDR: https://youtu.be/uthUKE5riu0Cover to Cover: https://youtu.be/yv_jPMFk1WQIn this episode, we’re breaking it all down:🎥 What we loved (and what we were nervous about)🎭 The casting choices📖 How closely the movie followed the book👀 And whether it delivered on the hypePlus, we wrap things up by looking back at our favorite books of the year, revisiting our ratings, and teasing what’s coming in 2026 — because apparently we like to plan ahead. 😅It’s a fun, nostalgic, and slightly unhinged conversation you won’t want to miss.Hit play and kick off the year with us. 🎙️✨#SoApproachable #TheHousemaid #BookToMovie #BookClubPodcast #ReadersOfInstagram #BookTok #PodcastCommunity #NewYearsEpisode #BookLoversUnite #MovieDiscussion #Housemaid #bookreview #moviereview

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from So Approachable!Our Cover to Cover episode for The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is officially live — and wow, this book completely surprised us.We went in not expecting much… and walked away delighted. Cozy, clever, charming, and honestly just the kind of holiday read we needed. 💛If you read along with us, we hope you loved this festive pick as much as we did — and if you didn’t, now’s the perfect time to curl up, hit play, and join us in absolutely raving about it.Thanks for spending part of your holiday with us. 🎁🎙️#TheMostWonderfulCrimeOfTheYear #AllyCarter #SoApproachable #BookClubPodcast #HolidayMystery #Romystery #ReadersOfInstagram #BookTok #PodcastCommunity #ChristmasReads

We’re officially kicking off our holiday read with The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter — and trust us when we say… this one is a MUST read. 🎄🔍In this TLDR episode, we give you the spoiler-free scoop on our festive pick — the vibes, the setup, and why this book already has us counting down to our full discussion. While we weren’t totally sure what we were getting ourselves into at first, it didn’t take long for us to realize this story is something special.Think cozy mystery meets romcom energy — a true romystery — with charm, banter, and just enough intrigue to keep you turning pages.✨ Even better: our Cover to Cover episode drops on Christmas Day, so now is the perfect time to read along and come back for the full conversation.🎧 Listen to the TLDR, grab your copy, and trust us on this one — you’ll want to be part of the discussion.

This week, we’re unpacking Laura Lippman’s Murder Takes a Vacation — a cozy mystery that takes us from Baltimore familiarity to the dreamiest riverboat cruise through Paris. 🇫🇷✨Did we love every moment?…Well, we definitely loved Paris.And we were absolutely entertained by Mrs. Blossom’s strange, quirky, “is-this-really-happening?” encounters along the way.In this episode, we dig into:🗺️ The scenery that finally gives us the Paris book experience we’ve been waiting for🎰 The wild stroke of luck that kicked off Mrs. Blossom’s entire journey🕵️‍♀️ Why solving the mystery felt… tricky (did we solve it? Not exactly 😅)🤔 The ending that left us more confused than satisfied💛 And whether we’d still recommend this one as a gentle, cozy, curl-up-and-read kind of mystery (short answer: yes!)This book may not have become a new favorite, but it did give us plenty to talk about — and that’s what book club is all about.

We’re kicking off our next read with Laura Lippman’s Murder Takes a Vacation — a cozy mystery that had us hooked from page one. Lippman is known for setting her stories in and around Baltimore, which makes this pick feel extra close to home for Sarah and Jamie. 💛In this TLDR, we’re giving you the spoiler-free scoop on:🗺️ The dreamy riverboat cruise in Paris that sets the scene🍀 The unbelievable streak of luck that starts it all — Mrs. Blossom literally finds a winning lottery ticket🕵️‍♀️ How this “vacation” slowly becomes anything but relaxing✨ Why Lippman fans (and cozy mystery lovers) are going to be SO into this oneWe’re chatting atmosphere, vibes, and just enough details to get you prepped — without ruining the twists waiting downstream.Pack your bags (and maybe your magnifying glass) because this cozy mystery takes sightseeing in a very unexpected direction.🎧 Listen to our TLDR and get ready to dive into Murder Takes a Vacation!#booktokbooks #booktok #booktube #booktubereview #booktubetbr #murdertakesavacation #thrillerbooks #cozymysteries #cozyreads

Our newest episode is here, and we are diving ALL the way into Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose — an apocalyptic romance full of zombies, survival tactics, unexpected heart, and more humor than we were mentally prepared for. 🧟‍♀️💀❤️Need the background first? Check out our TLDR (spoiler free) episode: https://youtu.be/BBy5uq5WnIMThis week we’re breaking down:-- The zombie vibes (and what actually kills a zombie??)-- Prepper logic vs. mom-life reality-- Whether we’d survive in a Jeneva Rose apocalypse (spoiler: Jamie yes, Sarah… absolutely not)-- How this book blends romance, horror, comedy, and end-of-the-world chaos-- Why this might be your next binge read if you love zombie fiction, post-apocalyptic books, or anything by Jeneva Rose-- And of course, our overall book reviews!This episode is packed with laughs, theories, survival debates, and a few existential crises — the perfect mix for listeners who want something different, fast-paced, and totally unhinged.🎧 Listen now to our full Cover to Cover discussion of Dating After the End of the World!

We’ll admit it — this one should have been our Halloween pick.But instead of pumpkins and skeletons, we’re bringing zombies to the Thanksgiving table this year. 🦃✨Our next read is Dating After the World Ends by Jeneva Rose — an apocalyptic romance (yes, really) that’s part prepper novel, part love story, and fully ready to spark the most entertaining dinner conversation your family has had in years.Want to impress Uncle Jim between bites of turkey?Try casually dropping:“So, how WOULD we fend off a zombie attack? And what’s our family’s emergency bunker plan?”If that doesn’t ignite a lively debate, don’t worry — this book also touches on pandemic nerves and a dash of government-conspiracy-adjacent vibes.Basically, it’s everything your Thanksgiving table needs to stay extra interesting.Get ready for love, survival, and a little undead chaos in:Dating After the World Ends.#DatingAfterTheWorldEnds #JenevaRose #BookClubPodcast #SoApproachable #ApocalypticRomance #ReadersOfInstagram #BookTok #PodcastCommunity #ThanksgivingReads #ConversationStarterBooks

Out. Rage. Ous.That’s it. That’s Jamie’s official three-word (well… kinda) review of Too Old for This — because honestly, nothing else fits. 😅This book is absolutely outrageous in the best, most unhinged way possible.We spent the entire time wondering, what on earth could this granny possibly do next?! 👵🔪It’s bold, it’s dark, it’s weirdly delightful — and we had so much fun breaking it all down in our latest Cover to Cover episode. 🎙️Grab your Zinfandel and join the chaos. 🍷#TooOldForThis #SamanthaDowning #BookClubPodcast #SoApproachable #ReadersOfInstagram #BookTok #PodcastCommunity #BookDiscussion #DarkHumorBooks #ThrillerReads

🩸 New TLDR: Too Old for ThisWe’re diving into our next read — and y’all… this one is UNHINGED. 😳All we’ll say (no spoilers!) is that it involves an older woman, a whole lot of secrets, and absolutely zero chill.It’s dark, it’s twisted, and it’s definitely not your cozy book club pick — which means it’s perfect for us. 😈Catch our TLDR for the back-of-the-book scoop before we go Cover to Cover! 🎙️#TooOldForThis #SamanthaDowning #BookClubPodcast #SoApproachable #ReadersOfInstagram #BookTok #PodcastCommunity #BookDiscussion #DarkFiction #ThrillerBooks

We had big expectations going into Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy — I mean, it’s Amazon’s Best Book of 2025 (so far)! 👀But here’s the question: did it live up to the hype?In this week’s Cover to Cover episode, Sarah and Jamie dive into the icy, isolated world of Wild Dark Shore — unpacking its haunting setting, environmental themes, and emotional undercurrents (plus… penguins?! 🐧).We’re talking:🌊 The moody, mysterious tone that hooked us early📖 The pacing and plot twists that kept us guessing💭 The characters who made us feel something (for better or worse)💬 And, of course, our unfiltered reactions — you’ll definitely want to hear our rating at the end. 😉So grab your warmest blanket and hit play — this one’s equal parts cold, captivating, and complicated.#WildDarkShore #CharlotteMcConaghy #BookClubPodcast #SoApproachable #ReadersOfInstagram #BookTok #PodcastCommunity #BookDiscussion #BookReview #LiteraryFiction #BookLoversUnite #AmazonBestBooks

Sometimes the best books find you — and this one literally did. 👀We stumbled across Wild Dark Shore in a Free Little Library, only to realize it’s currently Amazon’s Best Book of 2025 (so far). Talk about fate! ✨In this week’s TLDR, we’re diving into what makes this mysterious, moody read so buzzworthy. We’ll cover:🌊 The eerie coastal setting that hooked us right away🕯️ Themes of survival, identity, and secrets that refuse to stay buried📚 Why Wild Dark Shore might be the next big conversation starter for readers everywhereNo spoilers — just a quick, cozy catch-up to get you ready for our full deep-dive episode. Whether you’ve seen it on book lists or just love a good atmospheric read, this one’s worth adding to your TBR.#WildDarkShore #BookClubPodcast #SoApproachable #ReadersOfInstagram #BookTok #PodcastCommunity #BookLoversUnite #BookOfTheYear #AmazonBestBooks #NewReads2025 #BookRecommendation #LiteraryFiction #thrillerbooks #thrillertok #thrillerreads #charlottemcconaghy

We made it through Kristin Hannah’s The Women… and wow, this one left a mark. 💔In this week’s episode, Jamie and Sarah go cover to cover through Hannah’s emotional, unflinching look at women serving as nurses during the Vietnam War — and how this story of courage, trauma, and resilience changed how we think about historical fiction forever.From raw depictions of war to the quieter moments of sisterhood and survival, this episode unpacks everything:💊 The realism that makes The Women hit so hard🪖 How Kristin Hannah blends fact with fiction📚 What makes historical fiction powerful (and sometimes painful)💬 Why this book is already one of our favorite reads of the yearSo grab your tissues, your beverage of choice, and settle in — this conversation is big, emotional, and so worth it.#TheWomen #KristinHannah #HistoricalFiction #BookClubPodcast #SoApproachable #BookTok #ReadersOfInstagram #BookPodcast #WomenInWar #VietnamWar #BookDiscussion #BookLoversUnite #PodcastCommunity

Okay friends—it’s happening. We’re diving into our very first historical fiction pick, and of course it had to be Kristin Hannah. (The Women, anyone?) 💥This week’s TLDR scratches the surface:👉 Life as a nurse in Vietnam during the war👉 What makes Hannah’s books so bingeable (and sob-worthy)👉 And the question Sarah keeps asking: how real is this gonna be?! 👀Think of this episode as your prep kit—part history, part hype, and just enough spoiler-free context to get you ready for the big read. Whether you’ve already cracked the spine or you’re just book-club curious, you’ll walk away knowing what’s at stake and why we’re so excited to talk about it.Episode Highlights: - A taste of the action (without the homework vibes ✏️) - The themes Hannah always nails: love, loss, resilience - Why this book might hit different compared to our usual reads - Permission to freak out about the page count—we’re right there with you 😂Grab your headphones, pour a glass (wine or coffee—we don’t judge), and let’s do this.#newepisode#bookpodcast #bookstagram#booktok#bookcommunity#bookrecommendation#historicalfiction#KristinHannah#TheWomen#VietnamWar#womeninwar#readersofinstagram#podcastlife#podcastrecommendation

💍 Champagne on the cover, chaos in the pages—The Wedding People by Alison Espach gave us plenty to talk about. In this Cover to Cover episode, Sarah and Jamie dive deep into this darkly humorous, messy, and unforgettable novel that’s equal parts sharp wit and emotional gut-punch. Seriously, it's one of our best discussions to date!We’re covering it all: complicated family dynamics, heavy themes tucked into biting humor, and characters that will have you laughing one minute and wincing the next. Of course, it wouldn’t be So Approachable without a little ranting, a little swooning, and plenty of real talk. 🍾✨⚠️ Trigger Warning: Profanity, heavy topics, and closed-door romance (about 2 chili peppers 🌶️).If you’ve already read it—or don’t mind spoilers—join us as we unpack the twists, surprises, and big takeaways from The Wedding People.✨ Pour a glass (champagne, if you want to match the cover) and let’s get into it.#TheWeddingPeople #AlisonEspach #booktok #bookclub #bookreview #SoApproachablePodcast #BookClubReads #DarkHumorBooks #CoverToCover

💍 The Wedding People by Alison Esch isn’t your typical happily-ever-after. In this week’s TLDR episode, Sarah and Jamie give you the quick, no-spoilers rundown on this darkly humorous, messy, and surprising novel that’s taking book clubs by storm.From complicated family dynamics to sharp wit and heavy topics, this book has more depth than its champagne-popping cover suggests. Think less fairy tale, more “pass the Pinot Noir while we unpack this chaos.” 🍷⚠️ Trigger Warning: Lots of profanity, heavy themes, and about 2 chili peppers 🌶️ for romance (closed-door).Whether you’re deciding if this belongs on your TBR, or just want a laugh-filled preview before our deep dive next week, this short episode has you covered.✨ Listen now and let us know: will The Wedding People make your book stack?#TheWeddingPeople #SoApproachablePodcast #BookClubReads #DarkHumorBooks #TLDR