Ep 258: Best Books Lately

This is a very special episode of Best Books Lately. Special because it's been awhile since we've had one, special because it's with my longtime internet friend and book twin Liz Hein, and special because we're weaving together some of the most important themes of 10 Things To Tell You: sharing your stuff, connection, and, of course, BOOKS.

In this conversation, Liz and I are not only talking about the best books we've read lately (and we've both read some great things!), Liz is also sharing about the life of her father, legendary Chicago photographer Rich Hein, who passed away unexpectedly last month. Liz's book selections are inspired by her dad, and I love that we could honor his memory in this way.

Follow Liz Hein @lizisreading_ on Instagram

Rich Hein's obituary was on the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times

FULL SHOW NOTES HERE

Join the SECRET STUFF BOOK CLUB

LAURA'S BOOKS:

Beautyland by Marie Helene Bertino

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

Cue the Sun! by Emily Nussbaum

Liars by Sarah Manguso

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

LIZ'S BOOKS:

A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

There's Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib

ALSO MENTIONED:

Bob Dylan Goes Electric by Elijah Wald

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

All Fours by Miranda July

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

EPISODES MENTIONED:

Ep. 250 Best Books of the Year 2024

Ep. 252 Most Anticipated Books of 2025 with Traci Thomas of The Stacks podcast

Ep. 195 Why do smart people love dumb tv?

Ep 239 Horror for Beginners with Meredith Monday Schwartz