Drinks in the Library

Gigi Howard
  • 4.8 (26)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Drinks in the library, the only library where drinks aren’t just allowed, they are required! Each episode librarian Gigi Howard interviews a guest about their favorite book and we pair it with a drink for you to make at home or share with your next book club meet-up!

  1. 2D AGO

    Sole Survivor by Derek Hansen with Heather Morris

    In Sole Survivor  by Derek Hansen, Rosie Trethewey leaves her unhappy city life after inheriting a remote shack on New Zealand’s Great Barrier Island, hoping for a fresh start. There, she meets two isolated and troubled neighbors, Red O’Hara, a traumatized former prisoner of war, and Angus McLeod, a bitter retired policeman, whose lives she gradually changes. As outside forces threaten their island home, the three form an unlikely bond and learn to heal from the pain of their pasts. My guest this week is author Heather Morris. In 2003, Heather met Lale Sokolov, whose story inspired The Tattooist of Auschwitz, now one of the 21st century’s bestselling books and adapted in 2024 as a widely acclaimed Stan Original Series. It was followed by Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters, completing the Tattooist trilogy. Her first contemporary novel, The Wish, was inspired by her years working in a public hospital, alongside families facing the toughest of times with love and courage. The Wish’s US publication date is May 5, 2026. Her upcoming novel, The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse, releases in October 2026, and tells the story of French Resistance fighter Andrée Levallois, who risked her life to protect one of her students during the war. Heather’s books have sold over 19 million copies worldwide. The drink this week is one Heather enjoys on vacation, and I enjoy most days: Chardonnay! I have to note that since Heather is in Australia and I am in the US, during the actual recording of this she was enjoying her morning coffee while I sipped a cold glass of wine. In this Episode Books by Heather Morris Pākehā population New Zealand Māori People Crowded House Band Neil Finn

  2. APR 21

    Shark Heart by Emily Habeck with Ashley Hall

    Shark Heart by Emily Habeck is a surreal love story about newlyweds Wren and Lewis, whose marriage is upended when Lewis is diagnosed with a rare condition that will slowly transform him into a great white shark. As they confront grief, change, and the limits of love, the novel uses magical realism to explore what it means to stay connected when life becomes unrecognizable. A nonprofit leader by day, Ashley spends her free time volunteering; chasing down Richmond’s best hikes and restaurants with her friends, family, and pup; and adventuring across the globe. A recovering English major, she’ll take any excuse to turn a good read into a great conversation. Ashley is the Executive Director of Communities in Schools Chesterfield, and on May 12th they are having their first ever Adult Spelling Bee Fundraiser! You should definitely come to raise some money for a great cause, also - I will be one of their “Celebrity Spellers” so come witness me failing horribly at spelling!  Spelling bee tickets: https://cisofchesterfield.networkforgood.com/events/96878-cis-c-adult-spelling-bee-extravaganza Searn more about CIS: www.cisofchesterfield.org  Our drink this week is the Metamorphosis Cocktail, which I absolutely loved - it literally changes colors!  Metamorphosis Cocktail  Ingredients  2 oz gin 1 oz butterfly pea tea (cooled) ¾ oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz Simple Syrup Ice Optional flair: Edible glitter  Black sugar or salt rim Lemon twist or edible flower Directions: Brew butterfly pea tea by steeping 1–2 tsp dried flowers in ½ cup hot water for 5–7 minutes; strain and cool. Fill a glass with ice and add 2 oz gin + 1 oz cooled butterfly pea tea. Slowly pour in ¾ oz fresh lemon juice and watch the color change from blue to purple. Stir in ½ oz simple syrup to taste, then garnish if desired. In This Episode Shadowlands Film Quote  (I could not remember who to attribute this to while we were recording) Speculative Fiction

  3. APR 14

    Culpability by Bruce Holsinger with Barbara Ferrara

    Culpability by Bruce Holsinger is a techno-thriller and family drama about the moral fallout of a fatal crash involving an autonomous minivan. The novel follows the Cassidy-Shaw family as they confront guilt, secrets, and the ethical questions surrounding AI after their teenage son, Charlie, is involved in the accident while the car is in self-driving mode. It explores themes of technology's impact on human relationships, corporate greed, and the complex dynamics between parents and teenagers.  My guest this week is Barbara Ferrara. She is a librarian, mother, lifelong learner, passionate reader who loves to travel and is currently learning Spanish.Our drink this week is an Old Fashioned, since it is the opposite of AI. I also made sure to pick a Virginian bourbon, since the author, Bruce Holsinger, lives here in Virginia! I went with the Tarnished Truth Bourbon, which is brewed in the famous Cavalier Hotel at Virginia Beach! Old Fashioned Recipe 1 teaspoon sugar 3 dashes Angostura bitters 1 teaspoon water 2 ounces bourbon (or rye whiskey, if preferred) Garnish: orange twist In This Episode Meta AI book heist Descript  The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

  4. APR 7

    We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman with Lindsey Goldstein

    We All Want Impossible Things is a tender, darkly funny novel about friendship, grief, and letting go. It follows Ash as she supports her best friend Edi through the final stages of illness, capturing the small, intimate moments that define a lifelong bond. The story balances humor and heartbreak while exploring love, loss, and what it means to say goodbye. Lindsey Goldstein is the author of Gap Year Her essays about love and parenting have appeared in The New York Times, The Chicago Story Press, Kveller, and The Sunlight Press. She lives in Irvine, CA with her husband, kids, and rescue mutt. You can find her on her website Lindseygoldsteinauthor.com and on Instagram and Threads @GoldsteinLindsey We recorded this with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, a favorite of Lindsey’s and one I recommend for Spring! In particular I drank a glass of Leia Vinters Sauvignon Blanc.  In This Episode The Dinosaurs on Netflix Crone Sandwich -Catherine Newman’s Substack Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

  5. MAR 31

    Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas W. Tallamy with Leslie Eva Tayloe

    Nature's Best Hope by Douglas W. Tallamy argues that everyday homeowners can play a critical role in reversing biodiversity loss by transforming their yards into thriving ecosystems. Tallamy explains how replacing traditional lawns with native plants supports insects, birds, and other wildlife that depend on them for survival. The book offers a hopeful, practical roadmap for collective environmental impact through small, local actions.  Leslie Eva Tayloe is an award winning children’s picture book author. She’s the author of The Attic Door, a 2024 Story Monster’s Approved Award, and a 2025 Literary Titan Gold Book Award, Save the Trees, a 2024 Moonbean Bronze Medalist for environmental issues, and Longlisted for the 2025 Green Earth Book Award, and I’m Fishing with Pop-Pop Today. Leslie also authored an article titled, Marketing Group Helps Writers (Children’s Book Insider, April 2023). She is a former analyst with the federal government, and a substitute teacher for elementary school-aged children. Leslie lives with her partner, Michael, in Virginia. When Leslie isn’t writing, she loves to fish on the Rappahannock River, read, do crafts, and take long walks with her dog, Frankie. In this episode we both enjoyed a glass of 19 Crimes Cali Red Wine, which is a favorite of Leslie’s! In this Episode Invasive vs. Native Plants )Virginia) Homegrown National Park Fredericksburg Goat Farm Aldo Leopold The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wollenben

  6. MAR 24

    In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez with Fran Dorsey

    In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez follows sisters Patria, Minerva, María Teresa, and Dedé Mirabal as they defy the brutal regime of Rafael Trujillo. It’s a powerful story of courage, sisterhood, and the price of resistance. Fran Dorsey is a mom, digital content manager, and writer who grew up loving the internet. When she’s not writing or busy with her kids and husband, she’s trying to close the rings on her Apple Watch. She’s also always ready with a book recommendation for her friends. You can find her on Instagram and Threads @FranDorsey—don’t miss her hilarious memes—and check out her Substack, Frannie Pack. Cuba Libre Drink Ingredients 2 ounces rum 1 lime wedge Coca-Cola, to top Garnish: lime wheel Steps Fill a highball glass with ice and add the rum. Squeeze in the juice from 1/4 of a lime and drop in the spent peel. Top with the Coca-Cola, then give a brief and gentle stir. Garnish with a lime wheel. In this Episode The Mirabal Sisters Hobnail Drinking Glasses - AKA the Millennial glasses Mariposa Cocktail Hermanas Mirabel Province Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green Open Book by Jessica Simpson Style Weekly Best of Richmond - Vote! Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

  7. MAR 17

    Gone by Michael Grant with Fiona Fenn

    Gone by Michael Grant is a gripping dystopian novel in which everyone over the age of fifteen suddenly disappears from a small California town, leaving the kids to survive on their own inside a mysterious barrier. As food runs out and strange powers begin to emerge, the remaining children must confront fear, chaos, and the struggle for control in a world with no adults. Fiona Fenn is an author of fantasy novels that put complicated “heroes” front and center. A fan of villains, redemption arcs, and intense explorations of healing in all its forms, her debut novel, The Crack at the Heart of Everything, is a love letter to every villain who wanted to do better but never got the chance. The City that Shattered the World is the second book in the series and will be coming out in October 2026! Drink Blackberry Survival Smash Ingredients 2 oz bourbon or dark rum ¾ oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz honey syrup 4–5 blackberries (muddled) 2–3 mint leaves Splash of soda water Instructions Muddle blackberries, mint, and honey syrup in a shaker. Add bourbon and lemon juice with ice. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Top with a splash of soda and garnish with a blackberry. In This Episode Sarah J. Maas The Spoken World Podcast - Michael Grant Episode Sweet Valley High Books Heated Rivalry Our Rogue Fates by Sarah Glenn Marsh Style Weekly Best of Richmond - Vote! Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

  8. MAR 10

    On Beauty by Zadie Smith with Virginia Pye

    On Beauty by Zadie Smith follows two feuding families—the liberal Belseys and the conservative Kippses—whose lives collide in a New England university town, exploring themes of race, family, politics, and love through sharp satire and witty dialogue. Kirkus Reviews calls Marriage and Other Monuments, Virginia Pye’s recently published book, “A fascinating and audacious novel of family, marriage and a society in flux.” It is a #1 Amazon bestseller in New Southern FictionVirginia’s essays have appeared in The New York Times, Literary Hub, Publisher’s Weekly, Writer’s Digest, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. She has taught writing at New York University and the University of Pennsylvania, and, most recently, at GrubStreet in Boston. Virginia is Fiction Editor of the literary journal Pangyrus and serves on the board of the Women’s National Book Association, Boston Chapter.   Drink this week: The Zadie Smith - obvi! This recipe is from the book: Free the Tipple: Kickass Cocktails Inspired by Iconic Women - Check it out! In this Episode Marriage and Other Monuments by Virginia Pye Style Weekly Best of Richmond 2026 Free the Tipple: Kickass Cocktails Inspired by Iconic Women Tickets to Live Show with Meg Medina April 18th

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4.8
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Drinks in the library, the only library where drinks aren’t just allowed, they are required! Each episode librarian Gigi Howard interviews a guest about their favorite book and we pair it with a drink for you to make at home or share with your next book club meet-up!

Information

  • Creator
    Gigi Howard
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    110
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Gigi Howard
  • Show Website
    Drinks in the Library

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