Welcome to We Just Want You to Read with hosts Paige & Daryn! We're just two friends who love reading and want other people to find books that they love reading too. Join us each week for unfiltered, unhinged, and un-asked-for opinions about book-to-movie adaptations, bookish hot takes, book news, reading, and (more importantly) books in general. We can't wait to talk about your next favorite read!
International Women's Day was this past weekend so Paige and I thought we'd jump in and talk about women authors. So we're here to recommend books we've read and books we want to read by women! Check out the list below and jump over to Instagram to let us know which authors are your favorite!
Daryn's Author List:
Lauren Kung Jessen
Erin Morgenstern
Fonda Lee
Shannon (S.A.) Chakraborty
Paige's Author List:
Jodi Picoult
Samantha Shannon
Amber McBride
Non-Fiction:
Alexandra Elle
Rebekah Taussig
Kate Winkler Dawson
Paranormal Romance:
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Cassandra Claire
Gena Showalter
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Poetry:
Amanda Gorman
Nikita Gill
Amanda Lovelace
Historical Fiction:
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Brit Bennett
Sarah Waters
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer
Fantasy:
Olivie Blake
Sarah Gailey
Emma Törzs
General Fiction:
Claire Keegan
Donna Tart
Barbara Kingsolver
Ann Patchett
Picture Books:
Jan Brett
Barbara Cooney
Horror:
Cassandra Khaw
Han Kang
Young Adult:
Sarah Dessen
Isabel Allende
Maggie Stiefvater
Libba Bray
Tiffany D. Jackson
Maureen Johnson
Romance:
Yulin Kuang
Chloe Liese
India Holton
Claudia Gray
Julia Stuart
Jenna Levine
Evie Dunmore
Lex Croucher
Emilia Hart
Lex Croucher
Meryl Wilsner
KT Hoffman
Clare Gilmore
5 Mar 2025
My Mom Wouldn't Want Me to Read It (Light Spoilers)
Welcome back to the podcast! This episode is about the books that made us love reading as kids. We're both diving into the nostalgia and diving into the stories that made us love stories. Jump into the conversation on our Instagram to tell us the books that made you love books!
Paige's Books:
The Children of the Red King Series by Jenny Nimmo (no spoilers)
The Inkworld Series by Cornelia Funke (light spoilers)
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede (light spoilers)
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (no spoilers - it's poetry)
Falling Up by Shel Silverstein (no spoilers - still poetry)
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein (you must know what I'm going to say by this point)
Daryn's Books:
The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce (thematic spoilers)
The Immortals Quartet by Tamora Pierce (thematic spoilers)
The Protector of the Small Quartet by Tamora Pierce (thematic spoilers)
Daughter of the Lioness Duology by Tamora Pierce (thematic spoilers)
The Beka Cooper Chronicles by Tamora Pierce (thematic spoilers)
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney (spoilers but it's a kid's book so calm down)
The Old Kingdom Trilogy by Garth Nix (light spoilers)
26 Feb 2025
I Just Got a Lot of Feelings (No Spoilers)
This week we're diving into book clubs - how to find them, how to join them, what to look for in a book club...you know...book clubs! Should we be telling you to like and subscribe? Do that if so.
See everyone next week!
19 Feb 2025
Intentionally Looking For It (No Spoilers)
We're recommending Black authors that we have read and/or are excited to read! It's important to diversify your reading habits so we're here with a list of authors you may want to check out. No spoilers in this episode - just a list of authors you should definitely support throughout the year, not just during Black History Month.
Our Personal Must Read Authors:
Yaa Gyasi
Oyinkan Braithwaite
P. Djèlí Clark
N.K. Jemisin
S.A. Cosby
Helen Oyeyemi
Historical Fiction:
Yaa Gyasi
Colson Whitehead
Toni Morrison
Memoirs:
Michelle Obama
Trevor Noah
RuPaul
Gabrielle Union
Nicole Byer
Michelle Buteau
Young Adult (YA):
Leah Johnson
Elizabeth Acevedo
Non Fiction:
Bryan Stevenson
Joseph Graves
Margot Lee Shetterly
General Fiction:
Zadie Smith
High Fantasy:
Tomi Adeyemi
Octavia Butler
Even Winter
Marlon James
Short Stories:
Deesha Philyaw
Romance:
Alexa Martin
Beverly Jenkins
Jasmine Guillory
Kennedy Ryan
Claire Kann
Kimberly Lemming
Research Study Link (https://medium.com/@jacksonmichelle24/black-writers-continue-to-face-challenges-in-the-publishing-industry-5eee05e10311)
Re: Book Bans:
Daryn looked for statistics on book bans as they relate to Black authors but couldn't find much. There's this article (https://www.colorado.edu/today/2024/07/02/women-color-disproportionately-targeted-book-bans-study-finds) about a study done on books banned in 2023 which found women of color to be disproportionately represented in the Banned Book List but obviously, a lot can change in 2025. Hop over to Instagram and let us know if you know of a better, more current study.
12 Feb 2025
But It Wasn’t a Spoiler, Was It (Yes, Spoilers)
We’re talking reviews, we’re talking spoilers, we’re just talkin’! Jump in to hear Daryn & Paige talk about the books they’ve recommended to each other recently. Paige read a historical romance and a contemporary romance while Daryn picked up a cozy sci-fi novella. Let us know if you read any of these, too!
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore (yes spoilers)
Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers (yes spoilers)
A Prayer for the Crownshy by Becky Chambers (no spoilers)
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez (no spoilers)
Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly (yes spoilers)
7 Feb 2025
I’m Gonna Check That Out From the Library (No Spoilers)
We’re back (2 days late, Daryn really needs to set alarm reminders to press "publish") with some book recommendations and as per usual, Daryn is a total glutton for every book Paige recommends! There are no spoilers but here are the books we recommended to each other this time around. Join us in a few weeks to chat about the books we end up choosing!
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez (no spoilers)
Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers (no spoilers)
Uprooted by Naomi Novik (no spoilers)
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez (no spoilers)
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez (no spoilers)
Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez (no spoilers)
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark (no spoilers)
Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen (no spoilers)
We Were Beautiful by Imbolo Mbue (no spoilers)
Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly (no spoilers)
Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly (no spoilers)
Alanna by Tamora Pierce (no spoilers)
Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (no spoilers)
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (no spoilers)
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (no spoilers)
29 Jan 2025
When It’s Good and When It’s Bad
No book recommendations or reviews this time around - Daryn and Paige chat about the gamification of reading. When is it good? When is it bad? We answer these questions (I mean kind of…we’re just out here talking about books). Tune in then join the gamification conversation over on our Instagram @wejustwantyoutoread.
Articles Referenced:
Gamification of Reading: Is It a Page-Turner or a Problem? (https://howtobe247.com/gamification-of-reading-is-it-a-page-turner-or-a-problem/)
The Gamification of Reading is Changing How We Approach Books (https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/books/a44567428/the-gamification-of-reading-is-changing-how-we-approach-books/)
PS - Between when we recorded this and when it’s airing, The Storygraph has officially added the Pause feature!
15 Jan 2025
What I’m Pullin’ Up in my Little Brain (Yes Spoilers)
Hosts Emily and Rachel review the books they recommended a month ago, sharing in-depth discussions and spoilers for Every Heart a Doorway, Black Movie, and more, warning listeners to proceed with caution.
8 Jan 2025
Sorry Everybody (No Spoilers)
It’s our first episode of the year and here we are to chat about the books we’re most looking forward to reading this year! Daryn and Paige each list off some of the books on their TBR that they just can’t wait to dive into! Check out the (very long list) of books talked about below:
Ying Yang Love Story by Lauren Kung Jessen (no spoilers)
Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen (no spoilers)
Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen (no spoilers)
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten (no spoilers)
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten (light thematic spoilers)
The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten (no spoilers)
The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten (no spoilers)
Babel by R.F. Kuang (no spoilers)
The Poppy Wars by R.F. Kuang (no spoilers)
Yelllowface by R.F. Kuang (no spoilers)
Atlas Six by Olivie Blake (no spoilers)
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake (no spoilers)
Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake (no spoilers)
Jade City by Fonda Lee (no spoilers)
Jade War by Fonda Lee (no spoilers)
Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee (no spoilers)
The Jade Setter of Janloon by Fonda Lee (no spoilers)
Jade Shards by Fonda Lee (no spoilers)
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (no spoilers)
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon (light spoilers)
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (no spoilers)
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (no spoilers)
Want by Gillian Anderson (no spoilers)
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (no spoilers)
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo (no spoilers)
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark (no spoilers)
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark (no spoilers)
A Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark (no spoilers)
A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (no spoilers)
Angel of Khan el-Khalili by P. Djèlí Clark (no spoilers)
The Nine Tail Cat Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark (no spoilers)
18 Dec 2024
I Doubt They Even Know We Exist (No Spoilers)
Bookish hosts Daryn and Uzma discuss the importance of book tracking, exploring various methods and tools for organizing reading habits without spoilers.
12 Dec 2024
It Gave Me Nightmares and I Mean That As the Highest Compliment
Daryn discusses her 20-year obsession with Australian author Garth Nix, exploring the depth and complexity of his Old Kingdom series.
27 Nov 2024
Hey Read This Book - It Was a Pile of Dog Sh!t (No Spoilers)
Daryn and Paige, book reviewers, discuss a diverse range of titles including Every Heart a Doorway and Graveyard Shift, offering strong opinions and potential new reads.
20 Nov 2024
We Were Caught Unprepared (And We Love It!) (Yes Spoilers)
Paige and Daryn share their unanticipated favorite book discoveries, from Good Luck With That to A Court of Mist and Fury, revealing how unexpected stories can shape personal tastes and perspectives.
13 Nov 2024
I Hope Nobody Hates Me For Saying This
This week, Paige and Daryn talk about adaptations - were they good, were they bad, does it have an actor one of them loves a lot, is there a standout scene, will this list ever end, who knows. Lots of titles thrown around in this episode and the only real spoiler is for Fight Club, both the movie and the book. Otherwise, there are vague spoilers about situations or scenes so proceed with general/light caution!
Books/Movies/TV Shows Mentioned:
Simon Vs. the Homosapien Agenda by Becky Albertalli / Love, Simon (2018) / Love, Victor (2020)
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk / Fight Club (1999)
The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien / Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows / My Lady Jane (2024)
Ross Poldark by Winston Graham / Poldark (2015-2019)
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper / This Is Where I Leave You (2014)
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro / Never Let Me Go (2010)
Eragon by Christopher Paolini / Eragon (2006)
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman / The Golden Compass (2007)
Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Three Stories by Truman Capote / Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell / How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman / Practical Magic (1998)
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett / Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
Big Fish by Daniel Wallace / Big Fish (2003)
Princess Bride by William Goldman / Princess Bride (1987)
6 Nov 2024
I Don’t Have Anything Against Sarah J Maas, It’s Just..We’ll Get Into It (Yes Spoilers)
We're diving into Sarah J. Maas this week - Paige is for her, Daryn is decidedly not. Paige will talk through the plot points of the Throne of Glass series, ACOTAR, and Crescent City with vague spoiler-type discussions. Daryn will ask questions and be vaguely judgemental and confused. Come join us!
30 Oct 2024
Sounds Like A Waste of Paper, Killed a Tree for NOTHING (Kinda Spoilers)
It's time for our third episode and instead of encouraging you to read, it's time for a DNF (did not finish) episode! Daryn & Paige wax poetic about reading, hate on books, and ultimately just list some of the books we didn't finish recently. Before you listen, check out this list of books we talked about to make sure you don't have a book spoiled for you:
Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings (no spoilers just Daryn being grouchy)
The Queen of the Tearling Trilogy by Erika Johansen (no spoilers just Daryn aggressively hating it)
This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti (yes spoilers - Paige had a lot of opinions)
A Soul as Cold as Frost by Jennifer Kropf (kind of spoilers because Daryn didn't finish it)
The Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope (no spoilers Paige didn't know what was happening)
The Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare (no spoilers just Daryn beefin')
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon (vague spoilers - both of us didn't dig it)
My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine (no spoilers just a not-safe-for-work discussion)
Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver (no spoilers because Daryn only made it 25 pages)
I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (spoilers but it's non-fiction so calm down)
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (nah - Daryn's current read)
The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout (kind of spoilers for general series plot)
You Again by Kate Goldbeck (no spoilers because Daryn didn't get far into it)
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen (vague spoilers but Paige seems to have something against people with an "L" middle initial)
23 Oct 2024
Carnivorous Sourdough Starter...Doesn't She Name It Bob? (Yes Spoilers)
This week we discuss My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (with spoilers) and The Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher (with spoilers) after reading half and all the books respectively (you'll see what we mean). It may not be clear from the previous sentence or from the episode title, but this episode does contain spoilers; don't listen if these books are on your TBR and you don't want to know!
16 Oct 2024
Obsessed Is A Gentle Word For It (No Spoilers)
Welcome to episode 1 of our new book podcast! Paige & Daryn will convince each other to read a book without spoilers, talk about the format of the podcast, and muddle through starting & ending a podcast episode.
Who has been a guest on We Just Want You to Read
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Seanan McGuire
Danez Smith
Evie Dunmore
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Alix E. Harrow
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
11
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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