Mad About Books
Welcome to the Mad About Books podcast, hosted by Madeline Hobbs, an avid reader and aspiring author! This show helps readers and writers from all over the world stop wasting their time on books they won’t love, encourages writers prior to publishing, and creates a community of likeminded individuals who embrace the power of literature. Madeline finds all the best books, writing tips, and bookish products so listeners can get to what really matters: consuming great literature.
Episodes
If you’ve ever looked back at your younger self and thought, “Girl… you deserved better books,” this episode is for you. This week on Mad About Books, we’re unpacking the five titles I wish someone had shoved into my tote bag at nineteen—books that aren’t self-help, but somehow still healed, challenged, and shaped me in all the right ways.
Think of this as the older-sister pep talk I desperately needed prior to being 19: honest, co...
If you're anything like me, you love a book that takes place in the season you're actively experiencing. Especially when that season is fall. Today on the show, we're tackling the top seven books you have to read in the -ber months, with a specific emphasis on the perfect reads for Halloween that won't have you losing sleep, but will have you turning pages. Let's dive in, so you can live your best bookish life this autumn with all ...
What happens when a book girl answers the real questions about heartbreak, healing, and the stories that shape who we become? In this intimate Q&A, I open up about love, loss, and finding peace in quiet seasons. From crime fiction obsessions to writing dreams and the art of slowing down, this episode feels like a late-night conversation between friends who read too much and feel too deeply.
Let's begin.
CONNECT WITH ME AND FI...
Is it just me, or have you noticed an uptick in the trend of Hollywood saying a movie is inspired by a classic novel, but then completely changing the plotline? In today's episode, we're talking all about the 2026 movie adaptation of the beloved classic, Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, and discussing why we should be offended by the way Hollywood takes such liberty with classic works.
While Hollywood see...
After taking a week off to commemorate the life and sacrifice of Charlie Kirk, I'm back in the studio asking myself, "what's next?" I think I can confidently say that all of us feel a certain sense of urgency and determination following Charlie's assassination, but how do we move forward as creatives and readers? That's the questions I seek to answer in this episode, and I think you'll be surprised by some of my solutions.
We as r...
Hating reading isn’t the end of the story—it’s just the beginning.
In this episode, I dive into why so many people (maybe even you or your friends) grew up disliking books and how to rediscover the joy of reading. We’ll talk about tracing back where that dislike started, experimenting with every kind of book until you stumble on something you genuinely love, and why the best place to start might be with older reads rather than anyt...
Are you a writer tired of only thinking about the marketability of your book during the writing process? Or are you a reader who is tired of reading books with ridiculous mistakes, unoriginal ideas, and the constant feeling that something is lacking? I'm both, and I want to see these problems solved in the world of literature.
The good news is, we are the solution we've been waiting for. In this episode, come with me as I explore ...
Self-help books promise quick fixes, but the real transformation often comes from stories. In this episode, I explore why myth, poetry, and fiction shape us more deeply than another list of “life hacks.” From myth grounding us in meaning, to poetry sharpening our sense of truth and beauty, to fiction expanding our empathy—literature offers wisdom that self-help can’t. Let's begin!
CONNECT WITH ME AND FIND YOUR NEXT FAVORITE BOOK!...
Ready to tune in to your new favorite podcast? I'm Madeline, and on the Mad About Books Podcast we'll be discussing only the best books.
Whether you read to escape reality, go on adventures you only find through literature, or whether you want to write your own books in the future, you're in the right place.
Click that play button to get all the details about my book reviews, my writing pursuits, and why books are the very best o...
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