We’re halfway through 2025, and Adrienne, Audrey, and Lindsay are recapping the best five books we’ve read so far—and the ones that missed the mark. We’re also diving into book sales stats and the top-selling titles of the year. Tune in for hot takes, hidden gems, and a mid-year bookish breakdown!

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

Don't Let Him in by Lisa Jewell

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

None of this is True by Lisa Jewell

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon

Happy Place by Emily Henry

From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Arrangement by Kiersten Modglin

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldtree

Stop Me if You've Heard This One by Kristen Arnett

Just in time for Prime Day, we’re sharing our favorite Kindle Unlimited book recommendations! This episode is your go-to guide for making the most of your KU subscription. Whether you’re new to Kindle Unlimited or a longtime fan, we’ve got something for every kind of reader!

👉Join Kindle Unlimited here!

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Quicksilver by Callie Hart

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Good Morning Monster by Catherine Gildiner

Chestnut Springs Series/Heartless by Elsie Silver

Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino

The Boomerang by Robert Bailey

Till Summer Do Us Part by Megan Quinn

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

In this episode, we’re sharing our June wrap-up and what’s on our July TBR list! From 5-star reads and surprise favorites to books that didn’t quite hit the mark, we’re recapping everything we read in June. Then, we’re diving into our most anticipated July reads, including some new releases. Whether you're searching for beach reads, book club ideas, or hidden gems, we've got you.

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker

My Friends by Fredrick Backman

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

Dumb Big Eyes by Nate Bargatze

What The Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

Stop Me if You've Heard This One by Kristen Arnett

Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

This week, Adrienne, Audrey, and Lindsay are diving into Books Around the Block's June book club pick—The Tenant by Freida McFadden. It’s packed with twists, shady roommates, and secrets galore, and we’ve got plenty to say. Plus, stick around for a fun bonus segment where we each read a book chosen in honor of Lindsay’s birthday—let’s just say opinions were had.

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @booksaroundtheblockpod

Books Mentioned in This Episode:

Careless People by Sarah Winn Willians

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt

The Tenant by Freida McFadden

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

One Golden Summer by Carly Fortune

Adrienne, Audrey, and Lindsay are diving into one of the most opinionated topics in the book world: tropes. From the ones that make us swoon to the ones that make us roll our eyes, we’re breaking down the tropes we adore and despise. Tell us your most-loved and most-hated tropes over on Instagram and TikTok — @booksaroundtheblockpod.

Adrienne's Current Read: Untangled by Lisa Damon

Lindsay's Current Read: What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

Audrey's Current Read: Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

One Day in December by Josie Silver

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Six of Crows By Leigh Bardugo

Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

People we meet on vacation by Emily Henry

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shrieve

You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Savor It by Tarah Dewitt

The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker

Part of Your World by Abby Jiminez

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

In this episode, Adrienne, Audrey, and Lindsay are sharing the Summer 2025 book releases they’re most excited about. Each host picks a romance, a thriller, and a wild card—one book in any genre they can’t wait to read—releasing between June and August. Whether you’re headed to the beach or just the backyard, these new reads deserve a spot on your summer TBR.

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

Adrienne Read: My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Audrey Read: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

Lindsay Read: Real Food/Fake Food by Larry Olmstead

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware

Today’s episode is our monthly wrap-up and TBR check-in! Adrienne, Audrey, and Lindsay are talking about everything they read in May: what they loved, what fell flat, and what surprised them. Plus, they’ll share their June TBR lists and celebrate Lindsay's birthday with a book swap!

Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

Happy Place by Emily Henry

The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden

The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku

With a Vengeance by Riley Sager

All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James

The Maid by Nita Prose

How To Giggle by Hannah Berner and Paige Desorbo

My Friends by Fredrick Bachman

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

The Bachelorette Party by Camille Sten

Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Only One Left by Riley Sager

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

Today’s episode dives into the Books Around the Block pick of the month — Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. This story sparked a rich and heartfelt discussion between Adrienne, Audrey, and Lindsay, touching on everything from its emotional depth to its laugh-out-loud moments. We're unpacking it all — from thought-provoking book club questions to who we’d cast in the dream movie adaptation!

Books & Media Mentioned in this Episode:

READ- My Friends by Fredrick Bachman

WATCH- Keeping up with the Kardashians

READ- With a Vengeance by Riley Sager

WATCH- Bridgerton - Season 3

READ- One Golden Summer by Carly Fortune

READ- Joyful Recollections of Trauma by Paul Scheer

WATCH: The Last of Us - Season 2

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

The Tenant by Freida McFadden