Read the Book First
At Read the Book First, we love watching book adaptations come alive on screen! Whether a movie, tv show or a YouTube mini-series, there's something magical about seeing someone's interpretation of a book come to life! We do however believe that you should always try to read the book first. Each week we'll read a book and discuss it together. Then we'll watch one or two of the book's adaptations and consider the good, bad, and entertaining choices made throughout the adaptations.
Episodes
Welcome to the Season 4 finale! Amanda joins us to break down Wicked: For Good.
Thank you all for listening in this season. We're already planning Season 5! Keep an eye out for that in Spring 2026. Make sure to follow us on Instagram to get all the updates and to give your input on what books we read and which adaptations we watch!
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Surprise! A bonus episode! Jenessa and Amanda discuss the second act of Broadway's Wicked and their hopes and worries about Wicked: For Good.
Make sure to check out Jenessa and Amanda's ranking of the Wicked soundtrack on our Patreon!
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst
Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 ...
Stephanie returns to join us as we watch and review New Moon.
Make sure to check out our Patreon in order to find out how I "stumped Stephanie with a truck" in the guess the character game we played.
content warnings: depression, suicidal ideation, werewolves, vampires, blood, death, self harm
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBo...
Stephanie returns to help us continue reading and reviewing the Twilight Saga, with this discussion of New Moon by Stephanie Meyer. Make sure you check out last year's episode discussing Twilight!
blog post mentioned in the episode - https://stepheniemeyer.com/the-books/new-moon/new-moon-the-story/
content warnings: vampirism, death, self-harm, suicide, abandonment, emotional abuse, depression
Join Marissa and Jenessa as they discuss and compare the 1975 and 2004 adaptations of The Stepford Wives. Which movie is the more accurate adaptation?
Check out the Patreon exclusive episode where Marissa and Jenessa play "F Marry K*ll"!
content warnings - brain washing, robots, misogyny, kidnapping, death
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreo...
Marissa joins us to discuss the 1972 sci-fi, horror novella, The Stepford Wives.
Is this a satire? Is this still relevant over 50 years later? Listen to find out!
content warnings: brain washing, lack of consent, kidnapping, domestic violence
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst
Don't forget to subscribe, rate us ...
Spencer returns to help Jenessa analyze the 1995 film adaptation, Sense and Sensibility.
Is this the best Austen adaptation? Is Emma Thompson the greatest actress of all time?
You can follow Spencer on her bookstagram, @septemberance.
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst
Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars...
It's time to dive into the podcast's first Jane Austen novel! Jenessa and Spencer discuss what is "sense" and "sensibility", the f-boy-ness of a certain love interest, and whether or not this book is a love story.
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst
Don't forget to subscribe, rate ...
Amanda and Jenessa watch the 2007 film adaptation, Bridge to Terabithia.
Make sure to check out our Patreon to watch more Jenessa and Amanda shenanigans.
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst
Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow us on Instagram @readthebookfirstpodcast - Happy reading!
Busin...
Amanda joins us to reread the heartbreaking children's classic, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. Read and cry along as we discuss childhood lonely, friendship, and grief.
Content Warnings: neglect, abuse, grief, death of a child
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst
Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 ...
Neha returns to discuss the 1993 film adaptation, Much Ado About Nothing. Neha and Jenessa also discuss Anyone But You (2023) and Jenessa briefly recaps Much Ado About Nothing (2012).
Follow the Novel Tea on their Instagram, substack, and on your preferred podcast platform!
content warning: death, infidelity, innuendo, betrayal
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
This week we read our second Shakespeare play for the podcast, Much Ado About Nothing! Neha, from The Novel Tea, joins us to dive into this messy friend group!
Follow the Novel Tea on their Instagram, substack, and your preferred podcast platform!
content warning: death, infidelity, innuendo, betrayal
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBook...
Marissa joins us to discuss Apple TV's Murderbot, Season 1, starring Alexander Skarsgård!
Join our Patreon to listen to the exclusive mini-episode where Marissa and I rank iconic characters played by the Skarsgårds!
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst
Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow ...
Marissa joins us as we discuss the award winning novella, All Systems Red by Martha Wells.
We discuss space capitalism, why Jenessa doesn't typically enjoy sci-fi, and what determines sentience.
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst
Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow us on Instagram @rea...
Amanda helps us analyze Matilda (1996) and Matilda the Musical (2022).
We discuss the original stage production and how adapting a book into a movie then a stage production and then a movie musical changes a story.
time stamps:
00:00:37 - Matilda (1996)
00:51:51- Matilda the Musical (stage production
00:54:21 - Matilda the Musical (2022)
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Amanda returns to revisit a childhood classic, Matilda by Roald Dahl.
We discuss Matilda's powers, our favorite Roald Dahl books, and whether or not Ms. Honey is a good teacher.
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst
Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow us on Instagram @readthebookfirstpodcast - H...
Ashley of If It Was a Book joins Jenessa to discuss the teenage star-cross lovers movie, Five Feet Apart.
Follow Ashley and If it Was a Book! Jenessa was a guest on Ashley's podcast, so definitely check that out as well!
content warnings: cystic fibrosis, chronic illness, death of a loved one
Join Ashley, from If It Was a Book, and Jenessa as they discuss Five Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis.
This book was written at the same time as the film's screenplay, so did the book actually come first? Listen to find out!
Follow Ashley and If it Was a Book! Jenessa was a guest on Ashley's podcast, so definitely check that out as well!
Alyssa and Jenessa discuss the 90s classic starring Angela Bassett and Taye Diggs, How Stella Got Her Groove Back.
Follow Alyssa and her podcast, Stories and Spoilers!
@stories.and.spoilers.podcast on Instagram
@Stories.and.spoilers.booktalks on YouTube
content warning: age gap romance, steamy scenes, cursing
All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com
Alyssa returns to help us dive into the tropical romance, How Stella Got Her Groove Back by Terry McMillan.
We discuss the age gap featured and what is the "groove" Stella was looking to get back.
Follow Alyssa and her podcast, Stories and Spoilers
@stories.and.spoilers.podcast on Instagram
@Stories.and.spoilers.booktalks on YouTube
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