Reading Between Deadlines is a twice-monthly podcast with Aussie authors Anthea Hodgson and Rachael Johns. Each month, we unpack a trending book in one episode and interview the author of Rachael’s Book Club Pick in the other. <br/><br/><a href="https://readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com</a>
Reading Between Deadlines Podcast
Claim This Podcastby Rachael Johns & Anthea Hodgson
3.5(2 reviews)
37 episodes
Updated Daily
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16
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality32
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Podcast Overview
Reading Between Deadlines is a twice-monthly podcast with Aussie authors Anthea Hodgson and Rachael Johns. Each month, we unpack a trending book in one episode and interview the author of Rachael’s Book Club Pick in the other. <br/><br/><a href="https://readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com</a>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/8/2025
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Every 14 days
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Recent Episodes
June 14, 2026
We Read THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi
<p><strong>Hi Deadliners</strong></p><p>We hope you enjoy this latest edition of Reading Between Deadlines.</p><p><strong>This episode’s pick:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/X4421G">HALF HIS AGE </a>- a supposedly funny story about sex, power, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. The story is about Waldo, a teenaged girl who becomes obsessed with her teacher. It’s the debut novel by Jennette McCurdy, child star, now writer, filmmaker and more. Although this is her first novel, her memoir, GLAD MY MOM DIED, was a massive hit!</p><p>We hope you enjoy our deep dive into this hyped book.</p><p><strong>Happy Listening and Love lots,Rach and Anthea</strong></p><p>PS. If you want to watch rather than listen, scroll down.</p><p>💋 And, of course, we rate it: <strong>Kiss, Kill, or Marry</strong>.</p><p><strong>⏰ Timestamps</strong></p><p>0:05 — Welcome to the Pod!</p><p>1:18 — Rach entering witness protection to avoid socialising with Anthea (understandable!)</p><p>4:55 — We read Half His Age by Jeanette McCurdy…but why?</p><p>6:05 — Hype – has it tricked us again?</p><p>8:00 — Blurb – a tale as old as time (or if not time, as old as that creepy Russian book..)</p><p>9:38 — Author bio – Fancy enough for ya?</p><p>11:50 — Goodreads – Rach gets forensic…</p><p>13:01 — So – how did it sell? Rach runs the figures – Anthea is impressed!</p><p>13:20 — Kiss, Kill, Marry! The rules…</p><p>14:15 — Judging, but in a nice way..</p><p>14:47 — Rach reports back on her time with Waldo and her creepy boyfriend</p><p>15:47 — Rach is over stories with older male love interests. (Ageist!) (and she says something about character growth..?)</p><p>16:11 — Is the older man plot too creepy to enjoy? (Anthea feels bad about Harrison Ford, but not THAT bad..)</p><p>18:02 — Does anything shock us anymore? Anthea can’t remember..</p><p>18:17 — Anthea and Rach discuss period sex/bloody penis play – hot or not? (NOT!!!)</p><p>19:31 — Anthea on kissing Waldo.. (not just after the bloody penis bit, obvs..)</p><p>21:52 — What makes a good book? Anthea is still confused.</p><p>24:43 — What makes a book successful? (no, really??!)</p><p>26:03 — Is Waldo SUPER mature? Or just really into menopause?</p><p>30:57 — Waldo – lumbered with a middle-aged man. #goals</p><p>32:55 — Family dinner with a rando kid – weird? Or massively cosy and appropriate?</p><p>35:06 — Is Jeanette ok? A tough childhood on the page.</p><p>41:42 — What’s coming next on the podcast (Anthea writes things down..) And we add Yesteryear to the menu…(Anthea thinks it’s about her..)</p><p>44:15 — Bye!</p><p></p><p>📖 <strong>Coming up next:</strong> </p><p>👉Next Ep we’re chatting to Sara Foster about <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/e167qX">The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell</a>.</p><p>In <strong>June</strong>, we’re diving into <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/m4G3BZ">Theo of Golden</a><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/m4G3BZ"> by Allen Levi</a> and chatting to Kate Solly about <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/55VJA3">The Eyre Affair </a><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/55VJA3">by Jasper Fforde</a>.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/p/warning-your-2026-reading-problem"><strong>For what we’re up to after that, click here</strong></a><strong>. </strong></p><p>🛍️ Do you read between deadlines too? <a target="_blank" href="https://rachaeljohns.theprintbar.com/shop/view_product/24245671/Reading-Between-Deadlines-Podcast">Grab the merch</a></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe</a>
May 28, 2026
Sara Foster Makes us read THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE by Maggie O'Farrell
<p></p><p><strong>Listen above or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or if you want to SEE us in all our glory… watch at the bottom of this post. And if you LOVE the pod, please consider leaving us a review. </strong></p><p><strong>This episode's book:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/e167qX">The Hand That First Held Mine</a> by Maggie O’Farrell, is a story about two seemingly very unrelated women as they come to terms with new motherhood, love and hidden family secrets. </p><p><strong>This week’s guest </strong>is Sara Foster is an internationally bestselling author known for her gripping psychological thrillers and emotionally rich storytelling. Originally from the UK and now based in Western Australia, Sara is one of our best writing friends and we can’t wait to hang out with her again on retreat later in the year. Most importantly she knows how to party and we were recently luck enough to attend her 50th 70s themed bday on a boat! </p><p><strong>In this episode, we cover:</strong></p><p>Maggie O’Farrell’s long, fabulous career (no, we’re not jealous)</p><p>Authors who write many different types of books</p><p>Themes of motherhood in fiction.</p><p>The tenses we like in fiction.</p><p>Simple but poignant premises</p><p>Sara’s reading tastes and recommendations</p><p>💋 And, of course, we rate THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE: <strong>Kiss, Kill, or Marry.</strong></p><p>Loading...</p><p>📚 <strong>Books Mentioned in this Ep</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/rEDVqj">The Book of Unnamed Midwives by Meg Elison</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/0Gjb5N">Story Genius by Lisa Cron</a></p><p>Anything by Lisa Jewell, Taylor Jenkins Reid and Liane Moriarty</p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/1GP6Qx">Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/OYKXJr">Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving </a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/3kZ23k">God of the Woods by Liz Moore</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/7XO47d">The Hush by Sara Foster</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com.au/You-Dont-Know-Sara-Foster/dp/1789559774">You Don’t Know Me by Sara Foster</a></p><p><strong>⏰ Timestamps</strong></p><p>0:00 – Intro to our fabulousness (even if we do say so ourselves)</p><p>0:41 – Rach’s disappearing act and all the many luncheons. </p><p>2:23 – Introducing our fabulous guest - Sara Foster. She’s been prepping hard but still feels nervous, making Rach feel ALL powerful. </p><p>2:56 – <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/e167qX">The Hand That First Held Mine</a> by Maggie O’Farrell - Sara beautifully reads the blurb.</p><p>4:48 – Judging Sarah’s author bio. She has a PhD AND a very cute dog. We are officially in awe yet Anthea still gives her tips on how to improve it! Rach suggests Sarah write a memoir about the boozy, long-lunch era of publishing. </p><p>9:23 – Judging Maggie O’Farrell’s bio - Rach feels she’s a bit of a braggart, then boasts about her own thirty-something books. Sara talks about Maggie’s varied career (spoiler - she loves everything she’s written).</p><p>14:49 – Book facts, awards and Goodreads. Goodreads give it the tick of approval but now it’s our turn to Kiss, Kill or Marry. Every gets nervous and Rach no longer trusts her own opinion! </p><p>17:15 – Book discussion: Oh Lord, it’s another quiet novel. Lexi vs Elena timelines – which gal was the funnest? Anthea likens the book to eating All Bran. </p><p>22.00 - Rach needs a few things explained. She’s really pissed off about a baby with no-name, but aside from that she sounds rather obsessed.</p><p>25.12 - Oh Lord, Rach is waxing lyrical about quiet novels again, yet can’t explain what she loves so much about this book.</p><p>26.41 - Why on earth is Maggie so compelling? Rach admits she’s really nosey!</p><p>29.07 - Sara tells us why Maggie is a literary genius! Speculating on Maggie’s writing process.</p><p>33:14 – Whose story is this? (Lexi vs Elena vs Ted debate) Does Ted even HAVE a passport?? Anthea really gets nit-picky, but makes a good point.</p><p>39:46 – Time to ask Sarah all the hard questions. Eg. Who are her auto-buy authors?(Rach and Anthea offended not to feature)</p><p>40:49 – Sarah’s top book recommendation: <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/rEDVqj">The Book of the Unnamed Midwife</a> – this is the fancy kind of shiz we’ve come to expect from Sara… We can’t believe neither of us have ever even heard of it. </p><p>42:50 – Trigger warnings debate – When do we need to know?</p><p>44:34 – Classic novel Sarah hasn’t read and overhyped books</p><p>49:33 – Sarah’s favourite of her own books and insight into the podcast adaptation of You Don’t Know Me.</p><p>52:10 – Reading reviews: do our authors look?</p><p>56:03 – What’s next?? </p><p>👉 <strong>Watch now</strong> and tell us - did you love The Hand That First Held Mine?</p><p>👉<strong>Next Ep, </strong>we’re diving into <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/m4G3BZ">Theo of Golden</a><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/m4G3BZ"> by Allen Levi</a> and our June guess is Kate Solly who is making us read <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/55VJA3">The Eyre Affair </a><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/55VJA3">by Jasper Fforde</a>.</p><p><strong>July Books: </strong>14th July - <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/E0ekPD">Yesteryear</a><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/E0ekPD"> by Caro Claire Burke</a>28th July - <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/6kdv1m">Daddy Long Legs</a><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/6kdv1m"> by Jean Webster</a> with guest author <a target="_blank" href="https://open.substack.com/users/113929248-tamara-moss?utm_source=mentions">Tamara Moss</a></p><p><strong>Exciting NEWS </strong>- we’ve pretty much locked in all our books for the rest of the year! <strong>Y</strong><a target="_blank" href="https://readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/p/warning-your-2026-reading-problem"><strong>ou can see them here! </strong></a></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe</a>
May 14, 2026
We Read HALF HIS AGE by Jennette McCurdy
<p><strong>Hi Deadliners</strong></p><p>We hope you enjoy this latest edition of Reading Between Deadlines.</p><p><strong>This episode’s pick:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/X4421G">HALF HIS AGE </a>- a supposedly funny story about sex, power, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. The story is about Waldo, a teenaged girl who becomes obsessed with her teacher. It’s the debut novel by Jennette McCurdy, child star, now writer, filmmaker and more. Although this is her first novel, her memoir, GLAD MY MOM DIED, was a massive hit!</p><p>We hope you enjoy our deep dive into this hyped book.</p><p><strong>Happy Listening and Love lots,Rach and Anthea</strong></p><p>PS. If you want to watch rather than listen, scroll down.</p><p>💋 And, of course, we rate it: <strong>Kiss, Kill, or Marry</strong>.</p><p><strong>⏰ Timestamps</strong></p><p>0:05 — Welcome to the Pod!</p><p>1:18 — Rach entering witness protection to avoid socialising with Anthea (understandable!)</p><p>4:55 — We read Half His Age by Jeanette McCurdy…but why?</p><p>6:05 — Hype – has it tricked us again?</p><p>8:00 — Blurb – a tale as old as time (or if not time, as old as that creepy Russian book..)</p><p>9:38 — Author bio – Fancy enough for ya?</p><p>11:50 — Goodreads – Rach gets forensic…</p><p>13:01 — So – how did it sell? Rach runs the figures – Anthea is impressed!</p><p>13:20 — Kiss, Kill, Marry! The rules…</p><p>14:15 — Judging, but in a nice way..</p><p>14:47 — Rach reports back on her time with Waldo and her creepy boyfriend</p><p>15:47 — Rach is over stories with older male love interests. (Ageist!) (and she says something about character growth..?)</p><p>16:11 — Is the older man plot too creepy to enjoy? (Anthea feels bad about Harrison Ford, but not THAT bad..)</p><p>18:02 — Does anything shock us anymore? Anthea can’t remember..</p><p>18:17 — Anthea and Rach discuss period sex/bloody penis play – hot or not? (NOT!!!)</p><p>19:31 — Anthea on kissing Waldo.. (not just after the bloody penis bit, obvs..)</p><p>21:52 — What makes a good book? Anthea is still confused.</p><p>24:43 — What makes a book successful? (no, really??!)</p><p>26:03 — Is Waldo SUPER mature? Or just really into menopause?</p><p>30:57 — Waldo – lumbered with a middle-aged man. #goals</p><p>32:55 — Family dinner with a rando kid – weird? Or massively cosy and appropriate?</p><p>35:06 — Is Jeanette ok? A tough childhood on the page.</p><p>41:42 — What’s coming next on the podcast (Anthea writes things down..) And we add Yesteryear to the menu…(Anthea thinks it’s about her..)</p><p>44:15 — Bye!</p><p></p><p>📖 <strong>Coming up next:</strong> </p><p>👉Next Ep we’re chatting to Sara Foster about <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/e167qX">The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell</a>.</p><p>In <strong>June</strong>, we’re diving into <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/m4G3BZ">Theo of Golden</a><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/m4G3BZ"> by Allen Levi</a> and chatting to Kate Solly about <a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/55VJA3">The Eyre Affair </a><a target="_blank" href="http://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/55VJA3">by Jasper Fforde</a>.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/p/warning-your-2026-reading-problem"><strong>For what we’re up to after that, click here</strong></a><strong>. </strong></p><p>🛍️ Do you read between deadlines too? <a target="_blank" href="https://rachaeljohns.theprintbar.com/shop/view_product/24245671/Reading-Between-Deadlines-Podcast">Grab the merch</a></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2">readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe</a>
37 total episodes available
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This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 6 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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