Books Around the Block – Détails, épisodes et analyse

We are sprinting to the finish line with a stack of short books under 300 pages that will help you crush those end-of-year reading goals. Adrienne, Audrey, and Lindsay share their favorite quick hits, the tiny book recs with big vibes in the best ways.

We also dive into Brimstone by Callie Hart and break down the editing controversy that has taken over BookTok. Audrey’s reaction is priceless and completely justified. If you have been wondering what actually happened, we unpack it all.

Grab a cozy drink and a tiny book, and join us around the block.

Books Mentioned:

Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

Brimstone by Callie Hart

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

The Good Lie by A.R. Torre

No Exit by Taylor Adams

Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur

The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

This is a Safe Space by Lucinda Berry

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

The Compound by Aisling Rawle

We’re wrapping up our November reads and sharing what’s on our December TBR! From five-star favorites to the biggest letdowns, we’re chatting all things books, and revealing if Adrienne loved her official birthday book selection. Tune in for laughs, book recs, and a little friendly chaos on this month's reading wrap-up and TBR hopefuls.

The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill

Heart the Lover by Lily King

Good Spirits by B.K. Borrison

Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan

Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Mayluna by Kelley McNeill

Intercepts by T.J. Payne

Cackle by Rachel Harrison

Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coban

The Ten Year Affair by Erin Sommers

You Watched in Silence by H. Lee Justine

Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson

Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams

Nobody Knows You're Here by Brynn Greenwood

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

The Christmas Bookstore by Jenny Colgan 

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

I was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones

In this episode of Books Around the Block, Adrienne, Audrey, and Lindsay break down The Favorites by Layne Fargo—a sharp, tension-filled romantic tragedy all about obsession, ambition, and just how far people will go to leave a lasting legacy. We dish on the secrets, the scandals, the revenge plots, and the twisted romance that turns dangerous and destructive. Plus, we’ll share our dream fan cast for you to judge!

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey Stein

Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood

Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca

Fall is here, and we’re leaning all the way in. In this episode, we build the ultimate autumn reading guide with nine fall-themed categories—from cozy reads for crisp mornings to spooky thrillers for stormy nights. Each of us picks one book to match each category, giving you nine hand-picked recommendations to carry you through the season. Grab your blanket, pour something warm, and get ready to stack your TBR with the best fall reads.

The Carpool Detectives by Chuck Hogan

The Favorites by Layne Fargo

If It Makes You Happy by Julia Olivia

A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

Different Seasons by Stephen King

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizman

The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James 

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Book lovers, get your watchlists ready. In this episode of Books Around the Block, we break down the most exciting upcoming book-to-screen adaptations in 2025 (and some in 2026 too). We’re talking about the movies and TV shows based on books that we can’t wait to see, plus a few we’re not so sure about. Whether you’re into big-budget blockbusters or quiet character dramas, this episode will help you decide what to read before it hits the screen.

Dark Maestro by Brenden Slocumb

Wild Card by Elsie Silver

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hildebrand

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

Verity by Colleen Hoover

The Whisper Man by Alex North

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

September 2025 is packed with incredible new book releases! In this episode, we share our most anticipated September 2025 books hitting shelves this month. From twisty thrillers to romance and contemporary fiction, we’ll help you find the perfect additions for your growing TBR. 

Don't forget to join the literary conversation on Instagram and TikTok @booksaroundtheblockpod.

ADHD is awesome by Penn and Kim Holderness

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister

Heart the Lover by Lily King

Wild Card by Elsie Silver

The Academy by Elin Hildebrand and Shelby Cunningham

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards

People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young

Join Adrienne, Audrey, and Lindsay for our August Reading Wrap-Up! We’re chatting about the books we loved (and didn’t), a few surprises along the way, and our TBR card picks. Plus, we’re revealing what’s on our September TBR. From new releases to backlist gems, this episode is packed with book reviews and recommendations to inspire your reading lists.

Nantucket Nights by Elin Hildebrand

Rose In Chains by Julie Soto

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey 

The Hunting Wives by May Cobb

Didion and Babitz by Lili Anolik

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers

We Don't Talk About Carol by Kristin L. Berry

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

An Irish Summer by Alexandra Page

Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen M. McManus

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urduhart

Daisy Haites by Jessa Hastings

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Lori Gilmore

The Favorites by Layne Fargo 

This week on Books Around the Block, we’re talking about The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, an atmospheric literary mystery set in the Adirondacks in 1975. When a young girl goes missing from a summer camp, secrets, family drama, and suspense unravel in the wilderness. We dive into the novel’s chilling atmosphere, its haunting mystery, and—because we can’t resist—who we’d cast in a screen adaptation.

If you love literary thrillers, missing person mysteries, or dark summer camp settings, this episode is for you.

Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen M. McManus

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

The Favorites by Layne Fargo

Back to school season is here, but we’re leaving the textbooks behind. In this episode, we’re diving into the most atmospheric school-setting books. Think dark academia, boarding school, and college—from twisty thrillers and chilling horrors to swoony romances. Whether it’s haunted hallways, secret societies, or forbidden love behind ivy-covered walls, these stories prove school is anything but boring.

The God of The Woods by Liz Moore

A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe

Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

The Teacher by Freida McFadden

The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

The It Girl by Ruth Ware

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

This week on Books Around the Block, we’re sharing our most-anticipated August 2025 new book releases! Each of us picked two upcoming titles we can’t wait to read—from buzzy thrillers to swoony romances to unputdownable page-turners. Whether you’re building your August 2025 TBR or hunting for your next great read, these exciting new releases deserve a spot on your list.

The Ruins by Scott Smith

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen

I Know How This Ends by Holly Smale

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham

High Season by Katie Bishop

Love at First Sighting by Mallory Marlowe

Too Old For This by Samantha Downing