Novel Pairings Podcast (2024)

14/12/2023

Hey, Classics Club! We're thrilled to share our schedule of events for January and February (2024!!!). As a reminder, we will also be sharing recap episodes for The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton on Fridays for Literature Scholars along with our usual bonus episodes. We would love for you to join this readalong, and we can't wait to learn with all of you in the new year.

Jan 5: Spring Announcements

Jan 24 @ 7 pm ET: Class, NP Annotation Workshop

Jan 31 @ 7 pm ET: Book Club, The Custom of the Country Parts 1 & 2

Feb 14 @ 7 pm ET: Class, New Historicism

Feb 28 @ 7 pm ET: Book Club, The Custom of the Country Parts 3-5

One more reminder: classes are recorded, and we share both video and audio versions for you to catch up on at your convenience. Book club events are not recorded (for cozy vibes and the comfort of our members), but we often share "show notes" from the discussions in case you miss them. Discord is another great way to share your thoughts on what we're reading!

Go to patreon.com/novelpairings to sign up today.

28/11/2023

Since we framed our season/show with the theme of public scholarship this year, we've shared some deeply thoughtful, nerdy, and educational episodes. Today's is no exception as we dive into Woolf's literary Masterpiece TO THE LIGHTHOUSE. We hope to offer helpful literary critique and analysis for readers who have read the novel or hope to read it someday. Let us know about your experiences with Woolf and modernism in the comments!

21/11/2023

The 2023 Novel Pairings Gift Guide is a small collection of nerdy, beautiful, silly, literary, and thoughtful gifts, in your inboxes now! We're thrilled to include our very first Novel Pairings sweatshirts. Check it out at novelpairings.substack.com 🎁

18/11/2023

✨️NEW MERCH✨️ We love how our Novel Pairings University sweatshirts turned out, and we can't wait to see you wearing them! These make a perfect holiday gift, and proceeds support our small business. Which color will you get?

Shop link in bio.

With order questions, email [email protected] or [email protected].

International shipping available.
Orders will process and ship after 11/30.

26/10/2023

"Language is wine upon the lips." Virginia Woolf

11/14: A Room of One's Own Episode

11/8: Deconstruction Theory Patreon Class

11/28: To the Lighthouse Episode

11/39: To the Lighthouse Patreon Discussion

Save these dates! 📚

24/10/2023

If a dark and twisty stream of consciousness narrative in translation sounds like an intriguing read, BLIND OWLl by Sadeq Hedayat is perfect for you.

Penned by the forefather of the Modernist movement in Iranian literature, this surrealist story blends Western influences, Iranian folklore, and psychology. In today’s episode, we discuss key themes and questions raised by Hedayat’s text (so. many. questions).

Today’s pairings include a contemporary Iranian work in translation, a Persian fairy tale retelling, and a polarizing love-it-or-hate-it novel that is perfect for group discussions.

If you love our extra nerdy discussion on the podcast today, we have a hunch that you would also love our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Our Patreon is a great space to take part in public scholarship and talk about books with a smart, eclectic group of readers.

Subscriptions start at just $5 a month, and yearly discounts are available. To learn more about our Patreon, visit patreon.com/novelpairings. (Link in bio.)

20/10/2023

FAQ: Which edition of xyz should I read?

A: The most accessible edition for *you* whether that means a library copy, a used bookstore find, or your old paperback from undergrad.

Each edition of a classic has different benefits, from footnotes to forwards. For the extra nerdy readers, we often reach for editions for their introductions, context, and criticism and have sung their praises on the podcast.

Thank you for the gifted copies of TO THE LIGHTHOUSE, .w.norton!

17/10/2023

What is the difference between literary historical fiction and “woman with her back turned on the cover” historical fiction? In today’s episode of Modern Readers, we’re discussing the literary landscape and rise in popularity of the historical fiction genre. We explore the definition of historical fiction, significant time periods, craft vs. plot, and “literariness” to understand whether a historical book is literary or a really entertaining read—or both! Plus, we share Novel Pairings episodes and book recommendations to pair with our nuanced conversation.

If you enjoyed today’s episode and want more conversations similar to this nerdy genre deep dive, you should check out our Patreon community where for just $5 a month, you can access weekly bonus episodes just like this one. At our $10 Literature Scholar level, patrons have access to classes and our virtual book club, where we’ll be discussing The Blind Owl by Sadeq Hedayat this month. To join, visit

16/10/2023

Modern Readers + Literary Historical Fiction. Dropping in your podcast app tomorrow 🎧📚💕

10/10/2023

Short Story Club is back!!! Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery," first published in The New Yorker in 1948, feels relevant in every decade. Whether it’s discussed in the high school classroom or revisited in adulthood, this shocking story leaves a mark. Today we take a closer look at Jackson’s haunting text, considering its wider themes, and touch on how one of the most widely known short stories by an American writer continues to live on as a quintessential classic.

Special thanks to executive producers Emma, Dilma, Cathy, Amy, and Jodie for making Short Story Club possible!

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

06/10/2023

It's Banned Books Week. Have you added any banned/challenged books to your TBR?

09/09/2023

We can't believe the Novel Pairings babies will be two soon 😭 they both love reading, pizza, ice cream, and stuffed animals. Lou likes to play pretend at the playground while Theo climbs, runs, and slides. They're such a sweet pair, and we hope they get to read together again before another 3 years pass!

04/09/2023

It was a huge weekend for Novel Pairings! We met up in Denver to explore the city, browse Tattered Cover, eat delicious food with our families, and watch Lou and Theo play (and read) side by side.

This was the FIRST time we ever met in person after many years of internet friendship and 3 years of podcasting together, and we can't wait to do it again.

And yes, we did record a special bonus episode *in the same room* so watch for that on Friday.

16/03/2023

Today I hit publish on Reading in Public No. 4: Much ado about English majors. In this newsletter, I respond to some of the viral articles about why the English major is in decline. I’m very passionate about this topic and I loved writing out my thoughts. I hope you’ll take a look!

FictionMatters.Substack.com or visit the link in my bio and stories!

(Apologies if you’re seeing this for a second time. Somehow I deleted my previous post 👵🏻)

14/03/2023

New episode! Today we’re exploring a children’s classic we both adored, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. We explore Taylor’s inspiration for her novel, rave about the exquisite writing, and deep dive into the wonderful Logan family. We keep this conversation spoiler free so you can listen before, during, or after reading the book.

28/02/2023

New episode! We’re discussing The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman as individual children’s classics and explore the way they are in conversation with each other. We chat about each novel’s philosophical framework, storytelling style, and depiction of childhood, which leads into a larger conversation about the role of Kid Lit in ethical and moral education.

Download today’s episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

10/02/2023

Today on the Classics Club feed we’re getting extra nerdy as Sara shares some context and analysis for ALICE from resurfaced grad school paper.

If you’re looking for a thoughtful and friendly group of readers to learn with this year, the Novel Pairings Patreon community is the place for you. We offer bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes peeks, classes, book clubs, and more! Check out the link in our bio to learn more and get signed up!

06/05/2022

Do you judge books by their covers? If so, I completely understand. But you may also have missed out on a book I can't stop thinking about and one that pairs perfectly with several of the classics we've covered on the pod: Vladimir by Julia May Jonas. This is a book about art, artists, women in academia, MeToo, s*x, transgression, and how we read. Head over to the Novel Pairings Patreon feed for a bonus episode all about this fascinating book and how it’s in conversation with the classics.

03/05/2022

We don’t have a new episode today but we’ve got some great things coming this month, and we hope you’ll join us in reading our May classic: Romance in Marseille by Claude McKay. This short work was published posthumously to wide acclaim, and we can’t wait to discuss it—and, of course, offer some contemporary pairings!

29/04/2022

Chelsey physically put A Certain Appeal onto my TBR by sending me a copy from and today, on the Patreon feed, she’s adding it to your TBR with a gushing review of this contemporary romance. Head over to Patreon and join our Classics Club at the Literature Lover tier to find out why Chelsey adored this flirty rom-com and why this Pride and Prejudice retelling should earn a spot in your beach bag. -S

26/04/2022

NEW EPISODE 💌 Today Sara and Chelsey discuss Jane Austen’s silly, ridiculous, and absolutely delightful work of juvenilia: Love and Freindship. From fainting spells to the history of parody, this episode is full of nerdy information and fun Austen context.

If you’re looking to lighten up your reading life with irreverent novels and humorous romance, today’s pairings are for you, regardless of whether you’ve read any if Austen's youthful writing.

23/04/2022

UP NEXT 📚 We're reading ROMANCE IN MARSEILLES by Claude McKay.

"Buried in the archive for almost ninety years, Claude McKay’s Romance in Marseille traces the adventures of a rowdy troupe of dockworkers, prostitutes, and political organizers–collectively straight and q***r, disabled and able-bodied, African, European, Caribbean, and American. Set largely in the culture-blending Vieux Port of Marseille at the height of the Jazz Age..."

Are you reading along with us?

15/04/2022

New Bonus Episode 📚 After a year of struggling to focus while reading (even audiobooks!) and setting down more books than I was picking up, I'm finding my reading groove again. On today's Patreon bonus episode, I'm sharing my habits (but mostly the mindset) for rescuing my reading life from a major rut.

Sometimes you need to take care of your brain in order to pursue your favorite hobby, and when something is awry, it's especially obvious for a speed-reading bookworm. I hope you take away a bit of encouragement from today's musings and enjoy your Friday listen. 💕 Chelsey

12/04/2022

NEW EPISODE 📚 AUA 📚

How did Sara and Chelsey meet? What goes into making a Novel Pairings episode? And how do they find time to read with busy, curious babies in their lives?

Today’s episode holds all the answers to YOUR questions about classic literature, teaching English, baby bookworms, reading habits, and more. (Plus plenty of book recommendations. We can’t help it.) The show notes are full of links today, so be sure to scroll down in your podcast app or visit novelpairings.com.

Do you have any follow up questions? Drop them in the comments and we'll save them for a bonus episode!

05/04/2022

Do you love reading hyped books? Has bookish hype ever led you astray? What hyped books have worked for you? Today, in a Patreon bonus episode, we’re talking all about book hype and why we shy away from the phrase “overhyped.” This episode is available to our patrons at every level, so use the link in our bio to join and listen, and let us know here what YOU think about hyped books!

We’ll be back in your main feeds with an Ask Us Anything episode next week!

24/03/2022

Have you attended one of our classes yet? On Saturday 3/26 at 1 pm EST we're teaching a delightfully nerdy class on JUVENILIA, with an emphasis on Austen's youthful works as an introduction to Love and Freindship.

To access our classes, go to patreon.com/novelpairings and sign up at the Literature Scholar level. We can't wait to learn with you and hope to see you there!

Have any ideas for future classes? Drop them in the comments. We love to hear what you're curious about.

22/03/2022

NEW EPISODE 📚 Today Sara and Chelsey consider Middlemarch by George Eliot through a contemporary lens with paired books about marriage, community, and time-tested advice. You don’t need to read Middlemarch to put a book recommendation in your pocket today, so enjoy this unique collection of titles and a spoiler-free conversation.

And we’re recording an Ask Us Anything episode! Submit your questions to [email protected], DM us on Instagram, or stay tuned for a question box in our Instagram stories.

18/03/2022

Have you started reading our next classic selection yet? Jane Austen wrote LOVE AND FREINDSHIP in 1790 when she was just 15 years old.

Our episode on this short piece of juvenilia will air in April, but on March 26 at 1 pm EST we're teaching a class on famous authors and their youthful writing. Join us at the Literature Scholar level for $8 to attend: patreon.com/novelpairings (link in bio)

11/03/2022

Want to join us for a bookish happy hour? Tonight at 7 pm EST we're hanging out with our patreon community to share our upcoming plans for the podcast, including a BIG book this summer. This event is more like a book club meeting, so members may choose to be on camera and will get a chance to chat and share book recs.

This event will be held on Zoom and is available to patrons at the $8 Literary Scholar level. It will not be recorded, but patrons will recieve "show notes" summing up our announcements and books mentioned. Go to patreon.com/novelpairings.

We can't wait to see you tonight!

08/03/2022

NEW EPISODE 🌱 Today Sara and Chelsey check in and discuss Middlemarch by George Eliot. What does this 800-page Victorian novel have in common with Love is Blind on Netflix? Tune in to hear literary analysis, pop culture connections, and personal reflections on reading this giant tome. Plus, Sara and Chelsey reveal plans for a new episode format, coming soon!

Listen to Novel Pairings wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have an extra minute, we'd love for you to subscribe and leave a review!

Novel Pairings Podcast