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© 2026 Literature & Libations
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Join two sisters, one book nerd and one novel novice, as they review their latest read every other week while sipping a themed cocktail.
142 Episodes
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In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan’s 2025 “supernatural love story” Remain. Topics include the unfortunate name Tate (Tateifer?), Cape Cod vibes, ghost sex, not your typical love story ending, and our low threshold for hauntings. Plus, Kayla shares some exciting news! This week’s drink: Cape Codder via liquor.com INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 ounces vodkaCranberry juice, chilled, to topGarnish: lime wedgeINSTRUCTIONS: Add the vodka into a highb...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Elaine Dundy’s 1958 novel The Dud Avocado. Topics include the fun and original voice of Sally Jay, the darker themes in the book (surprise surprise, they involve men), free-wheeling and heavy-drinking Paris nightlife, how not to lose your passport, trips to Canada, being a Dreaded Librarian, and Sally Jay’s ending - what does zymotic mean in this context?! Plus, Title Talk! And how cool the author seems to have been. This week’s drink: Avocad...
Welcome, 2026! In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss pod favorite Lily King’s 2025 novel Heart the Lover. Topics include the way Lily King packs a punch in a short time, pompous young adult men in academia, Sam vs. Yash, revealing Jordan’s real name and how the men in her life defined her, the importance of first loves and how weird it is when you realize you’ll never talk to that person again, and feeling feelings.Plus, Title Talk! This week’s drink: Rose and Ginger Paloma (aka ...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor wrap up 2025 with their favorite pod (and non-pod) reads, plus other favorites from movies, TV, music, and more! This week’s drink: French 75 via Friday Night Cocktails INGREDIENTS: 1 oz gin½ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed½ oz simply syrup3 oz ChampagneLemon twist, for garnish INSTRUCTIONS: In a cocktail shaker, add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Add ice and shake until chilled.Strain into a Champagne flute and top with Champagne. Garni...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Madeline Miller’s 2018 novel Circe. Topics include work holiday parties, weird winter weather, every child’s obsession with Greek mythology, the true nature of the gods, Circe’s banishment, and commentaries on womanhood and motherhood. Plus, we cannot recommend the 1997 Disney movie Hercules enough. Go watch it! This week’s drink: The Circe (a Taylor original) INGREDIENTS: ½ oz Kitron (or other lemon liqueur)1 ½ oz ginLavender bitters½ oz lem...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss our One Hundredth Book!! M.L. Rio’s 2017 novel If We Were Villains. Topics include Stranger Things, Bisexual Disaster Oliver Marks, insufferable drama kids, the genius of Shakespeare, 90s Shakespeare adaptations, the frustratingly vague ending, and shades of Half-Blood Prince (and High School Musical??) This week’s drink: The Friendly Betrayal via The Attic on Eighth INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ oz Bourbon7 drops grapefruit lavender bitters¾ oz grenadine...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Gabrielle Zevin’s 2014 novel The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. Topics include a seemingly lackluster movie adaptation that we definitely will end up watching, the Hallmark movie premise that’s very well written, our desire to monologue in real life, reading short stories, literary fiction vs. genre fiction, chicken pox and shingles, what spices we would be, the elegance of picture books, the triumphs and perils of middle school/high school Englis...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s 2019 novel The Mercies. Topics include Leif Erickson Day, an entire village of women obviously being witches, the divide between the old ways and the new, men feeling the need to burn women to appease their fragile little egos, and endless night in the north. Plus: inflammation! (and not the witch burning kind). This week’s drink: Nordic G&T INGREDIENTS: 1-2 TB caraway seeds2 oz ginTonic waterLemon wedgeINS...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Stephen Graham Jones’s 2025 novel The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. Topics include pronouncing French words, tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki drinks, reading (and watching) horror, new vampire lore, the importance of buffalo, America’s nightmare, the nuance of Arthur Beaucarne, and giant mole people. This week’s drink: Blood Moon Boulevardier via The G&M Kitchen INGREDIENTS: For the syrup: 1 cup red wine1 cup sugar3 cinnamon sticks3 cloves1 star anise1 ...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2022 novel Thrust. Topics include chicken stock, Neptune’s gin, water apocalypse, the Statue of Liberty (and Clueless quotes about it), the sexy bits of the novel, toxic masculinity (oh hey, we know her), and feeling your feelings. Plus, we talk about The Life of a Showgirl (of course). This week’s drink: Sea Foam via Rhubarb & Lavender INGREDIENTS: Sea salt foam: 2 oz liquid egg whites, equivalent to two egg whit...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2005 novel Never Let me Go. Topics include the 20th anniversary of this book, how to classify it, the ethics of cloning for organ harvesting, memory and loneliness, rich people clones, talkin’ the title, Kathy as narrator (and carer), and the medical inaccuracies of Grey’s Anatomy. Plus, we talk at length about quitting social media. And remember: there’s no cow on the ice. This week’s drink: Amaretto Sour via Friday Night Co...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Christopher Buehlman’s 2012 novel Between Two Fires. Topics include delicious cocktails we had in California, how this book came on our radar, our appreciation of the writing and language used, the horrors unleashed (and how extra they are), the devastation of the Black Death, Heaven vs. Hell (and religion vs. science), and our motley band of heroes. Plus, we try to parse the true nature of Delphine (God?). And we, inevitably, talk religion.&nb...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest novel, Atmosphere. Topics include the powers of TJR, the particular charms of Lydia, Barbara (aka the WORST PERSON EVER), gaaaaaays in spaaaaaace, the iconic Sally Ride, the unbearable emotion of the last few pages, Joan’s views on God (and issues we may have with them), the utterly terrifying vastness and unknowableness of space, and toxic masculinity. Plus, we go on a tangent about gender and sex ed. Also: canniba...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss N. Scott Momaday’s 1968 novel House Made of Dawn. Topics include diabolical library pranks, Momaday’s influence on future Native writers, lyrical prose, Spark Notes coming in clutch, non-cringe sex scenes (including a tangent about smut), and Angela and Milly. Plus, we go down a rabbit hole about weird internet videos. And George the Cat makes another appearance. This week’s drink: Golden Dawn via Difford’s Guide INGREDIENTS: 3⁄4 oz Hay...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Octavia E. Butler’s 1979 novel Kindred. Topics include Torrey Pines and Tawny Port, nuts, Nazi Germany vs. American slavery, why white people have such a hard time acknowledging history, Rufus the Doofus and Tom Weylin who have 1 ¼ moral between them, (we need to talk about) Kevin, and Dana’s Conundrum. Plus, we get tipsy and talk about Keanu Reeves. And, George the Cat makes an appearance and brings some much-needed levity. This week’s...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Thomas Olde Heuvelt’s 2024 novel Bore-acle Snore-acle Oracle. Topics include Dr. Pepper, a horrible translation that pretty much ruined the book for us, incoherent plotting, algae, Austin Powers, and the utter laziness of having the male characters call every woman a bitch multiple times. Plus, we do a deep dive into the origins of the “c”-word (and introduce a new segment of the pod: C*nt Corner). This week’s drink: Flying Dutchman via liquo...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Daniel Mason’s 2023 novel North Woods. Topics include apple puns, the intricacies of Vermont maple syrup grading, beetle sex, geeking out about the writing, Taylor’s audiobook experience, the haunting magic of New England, creepy murder twins, gay tragedy, ghost sex, and the beautiful, hopeful ending. Plus, Kayla introduces a new song in her Taylor Swift parody oeuvre, talks about the food of the summer, and finally informs Taylor about her lat...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Anne Brontë’s 1847 novel Agnes Grey. Topics include the Sisters Brontë, Jack the Ripper origin stories, terrible children and their terrible parents, the fascinating character journey of Rosalie Murray, crazy courting rituals of Victorian England, the titular Agnes Grey, and the iconic clapback from Mrs. Grey. This week’s drink: Creamy Earl Grey Cocktail via Rhubarb & Lavender INGREDIENTS: Earl Grey Simple Syrup 1 cup water1 cup sug...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Gillian Flynn’s 2012 novel Gone Girl. Topics include true crime, the punchability of Ben Affleck, Nick’s family dynamics and his stunted development, the “Cool Girl”, how the patriarchy negatively affects women and men, Amy’s narcissism (and generally sociopathy), the Andie factor, the deeper commentary Gillian Flynn is making, and that frustrating but brilliant ending. Plus, we talk Target and Beyonce. This week’s drink: Perfect Pear v...
In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Betty Smith’s 1943 novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Topics include horrible Brooklyn bits, elusive cocktail ingredients, the incredible detail and specificity of the characters and events in this book, how relatable people are even 100+ years later, the current real estate situation in Brooklyn, class prejudice, education as a means to improve your life, Katie and Johnny as people and parents, and singing the praises of Francie Nolan. Plus, we t...
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