Two writers buy a small-town, local book shop in Lancaster, PA, called Nooks and discover a beautiful community of readers all around them. These are conversations with and about the writers, readers, and books that make the world a better place.
Shawn goes on an epic road trip with his dad to retrieve a delivery of books in time for a conference.
Shawn and Maile also talk about rest, their current lack of it, and how the body will eventually stop to rest even if we try to push through. They renew their determination to rest, and wonder how to do it with the busy holidy season right around the corner.
Finally, a few books that have spoken into this idea of rest and taking care of ourselves.
Books Mentioned:
Galahad and the Grail by Malcolm Guite
The Coming of Arthur (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9781951872472) by Malcolm Guite
From Here to You by Maile Silva
The Body Keeps the Score (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9780143127741) by Bessel van der Kolk
Protocals by Andrew Huberman
Something in the Woods Loves You (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9781643262291) by Jarod K Anderson
Temporary Shelters (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9781960329974) by Grant Clauser
Whale Day (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9780399589775) by Billy Collins
Whale Harbour (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9781668224632) by Mary Beth Keane
Jubilee by John Blase
Connect with us!
Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! (https://bookshop.org/shop/Nooks)
Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! (https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm835103)
Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! (https://nooks.gallery/pages/book-clubs)
Nooks' Substack (https://noooks.substack.com/)
Maile's Substack (https://mailesilva.substack.com/)
Shawn's Substack (https://shawnsmucker.substack.com/)
Nooks' Instagram Page (https://www.instagram.com/noooooks/)
Nooks' Events Page (https://nooks.gallery/pages/events)
Music by Copcar Karaoke
Art by Ned Bustard
*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.
12 Oct 2026
054 Maile Wonders If She Could Have Found This Life Sooner
Today we're talking about how Maile feels that having the bookshop has in a way fulfilled her purpose, and how she has recently found herself wondering, Why couldn't I find this sooner? So we talk about how the harder parts of life led us to this place and we wonder if those things are necessary to go through to get all of us to where we want to be. We also can't help talking about AI.
We also talk about why Maile has decided not to list her book on Amazon, why adults should read middle grade books, and what we're reading now.
Books Mentioned:
From Here to You by Maile Silva
The Woman in Cabin 10 (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9781501132957) by Ruth Ware
I Would Walk 500 Miles by Sean Dietrich
The History of the Rain (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9781620407707) by Niall Williams
A Place to Hang the Moon (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9780823452460) by Kate Albus
Protocols by Andrew Huberman
Whale Harbor (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9781668224632) by Mary Beth Keane
Connect with us!
Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! (https://bookshop.org/shop/Nooks)
Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! (https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm835103)
Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! (https://nooks.gallery/pages/book-clubs)
Nooks' Substack (https://noooks.substack.com/)
Maile's Substack (https://mailesilva.substack.com/)
Shawn's Substack (https://shawnsmucker.substack.com/)
Nooks' Instagram Page (https://www.instagram.com/noooooks/)
Nooks' Events Page (https://nooks.gallery/pages/events)
Music by Copcar Karaoke
Art by Ned Bustard
*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.
1 Oct 2026
053 A Summer of Joy and Sorrow and Books
Today we update you on the summer we had, one of devastation and joy, sadness and celebration. We also talk about how the kind of summer we had influenced the kind of books we wanted to read (and what we read).
Books Mentioned:
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Country People (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9798217197453) by Daniel Mason
A History of the Rain (https://bookshop.org/a/106545/9781620407707) by Niall Williams
Whistler by Ann Patchett
Connect with us!
Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! (https://bookshop.org/shop/Nooks)
Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! (https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm835103)
Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! (https://nooks.gallery/pages/book-clubs)
Nooks' Substack (https://noooks.substack.com/)
Maile's Substack (https://mailesilva.substack.com/)
Shawn's Substack (https://shawnsmucker.substack.com/)
Nooks' Instagram Page (https://www.instagram.com/noooooks/)
Nooks' Events Page (https://nooks.gallery/pages/events)
Music by Copcar Karaoke
Art by Ned Bustard
*All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.
Who has been a guest on So, We Bought a Book Shop
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Cade
Evan Friss
Jeff Chu
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
18 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 58 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
76
Social presence
94
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
Contact So, We Bought a Book Shop
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
