Paperbacks and Paychecks: A millennial podcast about books, soft life careers, and corporate chaos

In this episode of Paperbacks and Paychecks, Sara and Noelle sit down with Paul Warren, founder of Margins, on the same day the app was named Apple’s App of the Day. Margins is a book tracking and discovery app designed around how people actually read, and this conversation digs into why that philosophy is resonating so deeply with readers.

Paul shares what it is like to see a passion project land on Apple’s front page, how Margins ...

In this bonus episode, Sara and Noelle sit down with debut author Heather Colley to talk about her dark, emotionally rich campus novel The Gilded Butterfly Effect. They dive into the Shakespeare-inspired title, the messy realities behind the “cool girl” trope, and why Stella and Penny function as two sides of the same messy, brilliant coin.

Heather breaks down real dark academia vs the TikTok aesthetic version, how Greek life shapes...

Season 2 kicks off with real talk on fresh starts at work and on the page. Sara lands a new role with AI-assisted resume magic while Noelle opens up about layoffs, networking, and rebuilding. From smart interview prep to comforting reads like The Wedding People and The Gunkle, this episode is your compassionate, bookish pep talk for new beginnings. #paperbackspod

Join us: Comment with your own “new beginnings” and tag #paperbackspod...

It’s the Paperbacks and Paychecks Season One finale, and Sara and Noelle are getting sentimental—but not too serious. In this wrap-up episode, your favorite bookish besties reflect on what surprised them most about launching a podcast (hint: it involves editing fatigue and friendship joy), what they’ve learned about creative partnership, and what’s next for Season Two.

From AI anxiety to spicy book boyfriends, this season had it all...

📚 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Paperbacks and Paychecks, Sara and Noelle ask the age-old question: Is it okay to just quit? Whether it’s ditching a trauma-drenched novel or finally breaking up with a job that’s lost the plot, the duo dives into what it means to walk away—without guilt.

They spill their personal DNF (Did Not Finish) book habits, rant about overdone tropes (looking at you, bratty teen daughters), and get real ...

Some villains are misunderstood. Some are morally gray. And some? They’re your coworker who changed your font to Wingdings on a client report.

This week on Paperbacks and Paychecks, Sara and Noelle are diving deep into the villains we hate, the ones we low-key root for, and the ones we might actually be. From enemies-to-lovers tropes and fantasy moms with god complexes to workplace micromanagers, devil’s advocates, and HR horror st...

This week on Paperbacks and Paychecks, we’re talking heroes—on the page, in real life, and in the workplace. From classic literary legends like Elizabeth Bennet and the Count of Monte Cristo to real-world trailblazers like Viola Davis and Lindsay Pollack, we’re celebrating the people who shaped us and stood up when it counted.

We also unpack the recent BookTok drama surrounding Ali Hazelwood, explore why women authors get dragged fo...

In this episode of Paperbacks and Paychecks, Sara and Noelle spiral—literally and literarily—through Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series and the chaos of unreliable narrators. From Bryce's questionable choices (and even more questionable friends) to Hunt’s whole... baseball hat situation, they unpack what happens when your main character lies to you—and how that mirrors our own messy workplace narratives.

But the paperbacks are...

In this delightfully unhinged episode of Paperbacks and Paychecks, Sara and Noelle dive into their favorite thrillers, horror novels, and the workplace horror stories that haunt them more than any ghost ever could. From dead bodies at the funeral home to the mystery of a completely different guy showing up for a new hire orientation, the vibes are corporate Twilight Zone meets BookTok after dark. They also ask the important questio...

This week, we're talking plot twists—the good, the gutting, and the ones that send you spiraling into a new genre or a new job. From the bookish betrayals that caught us off guard to the career pivots that redefined our paths, we’re unpacking how powerful a sharp left turn can be. Plus: Noelle’s accidental fame on ABC, why Sara rage-quit Lessons in Chemistry, and the sticker that could be on your water bottle if you listen clos...

📚 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Paperbacks and Paychecks, Sara and Noelle sit down with an unexpected guest: artificial intelligence. From creative writing and book talk to resumes and legal docs, the duo dives deep into how they’re using (and questioning) ChatGPT in their work and personal lives. Sara shares how her AI sidekick "Chip" helped her navigate a trademark filing, while Noelle introduces her AI BFF "Sage," who’s b...

This week, we dive into the beautifully chaotic intersection of books that broke us open and jobs that nearly broke us down. From the nerdy dreamboats of contemporary romance to the red flags of toxic workplaces, we’re talking brain chemistry—both literal and emotional. Sara shares how Late Migrations and The Love Hypothesis rewired her reading life, while Noelle dishes on You Are a Badass and Talia Hibbert’s Brown Sisters series a...

Chapter 1: Why Hustle Culture Sucks (and So Does Rhysand?)

In this episode, Sara and Noelle dive headfirst into the chaos of today’s job market — from layoffs and career pivots to why hustle culture deserves to be fired. Then it’s onto paperbacks, where they very lovingly roast A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR). Is Rhysand really that great? (Spoiler: maybe not.) Grab your houseplants, pour a drink, and join us for real talk on c...

Welcome to the chaos—we mean, the career-and-book-loving safe space! In our very first episode, we’re introducing ourselves (hi, we’re Sara and Noelle 👋🏻👋🏾), unpacking our trauma-bonded origin story (spoiler: it involves résumés, remote work, and a literal insurrection), and sharing why this podcast was fated.

We’re two former career coaches turned bookish besties with a shared love of spicy fantasy, soft life career goals, and ...