Kris and Mads

Kristen and Maddie
  • 5.0 (199)
  • BOOKS

We’re Kris and Mads—sisters, readers, and the creators behind a thriving book and screen club that explores the stories that shape us. On this podcast, we deep dive into the books we’re reading, the shows and films we’re watching, and the bigger themes behind the stories we love. We interview authors, talk with fellow creators, and share honest conversations about storytelling, creativity, and what it means to live a full, meaningful life. Our mission is simple: Share meaningful stories. Seek what matters most. Be joyfully authentic. And empower people to be free and aim high.

  1. 2D AGO

    our 2026 tbr

    It's ambitious and full of variety this year! We can't wait to reread some books we love, start some chunky new fantasy series, read even more classics, and pair some amazing stories with screen adaptations with our Patreon bookclub!We've never been so excited to share a list like this with you. There's something about knowing our taste, trusting the recommendations, and feeling like at the end of the year we will have read so many different kinds of books from different voices and different times, across genres. We're so stoked.We'll report back every month on what we've read and whether we recommend it! Stay tuned for weekly episodes in between featuring genre discussions, thematic topics, and more amazing book recommendations.Thanks so much for watching!Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:29 - How we built our TBR5:14 - What counts as an automatic TBR7:52 - Book Recommendations12:12 - Why we have a TBR18:25 - 2026 rules for The Wheel24:09 - Series TBR for 202636:24 - Classics TBR for 202641:39 - 5 books we’re super excited for44:58 - Re-reads for 202648:43 - What we want to read with our Patreon Book Club51:23 - What could disrupt the TBRLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: nancy@farq-media.comTikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #2026tbr #tbr

    56 min

  2. JAN 5

    Did we read our best books of the year in December?

    How did we save all of our best reads for the very end of 2025?! Finished up some amazing series, and feel all ready to jump into some amazing reads in 2026. What were your best reads of December?!Books and authors mentioned:Tell Me LiesBy Carola LoveringThe Hound of the Baskervilles and A Study in ScarletBy Sir Arthur Conan DoyleHarrow the NinthBy Tamsyn MuirThe Story of a New NameThose Who Leave and Those Who StayThe Story of the Lost ChildBy Elena FerranteTo Sir Phillip With LoveWhen He Was WickedIt’s In His KissOn the Way to the WeddingBy Julia QuinnServant of the EmpireMistress of the EmpireBy Janny Wurts and Raymond E. FeistThe Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 3-8By Beth BrowerThe Veiled ThroneSpeaking BonesBy Ken LiuLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: nancy@farq-media.comTikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  This episode was edited by Daniel Pena: danielpena139@gmail.com#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

    55 min

  3. 12/31/2025

    Author Interview: Nicholas Binge on Dissolution, Ascension & Psychological Sci-Fi

    Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsWelcome back, friends! ✨While visiting London, we had the absolute privilege of sitting down with Nicholas Binge, the bestselling author of speculative sci-fi thrillers that blend massive concepts with psychological horror.Nicholas Binge is the author of Ascension, a New York Times Editor’s Choice, Goodreads Choice Awards finalist, and one of the best books of 2023 according to Vulture, Goodreads, The LA Times, and The Sunday Times. His latest novel, Dissolution, was named one of the best thrillers of 2025 by The New York Times, and we dive deep into its premise, themes, and inspirations in this interview.In this conversation, we talk about Nick’s writing process, why he loves techno-thrillers, how living in Edinburgh influences his work, and his journey to becoming a full-time author. Plus, we wrap things up with book recommendations, a fun round of two truths and a lie, and where you can find him online.Whether you love sci-fi thrillers, psychological horror, or are curious about life as an author, this interview is for you.📖 Check out Nicholas Binge:👉 Website: NicholasBinge.com0:00 Intro 01:47 Nicolas Binge’s successful books04:40 Where do you get the inspiration for your books07:02 The premise of Dissolution 10:12 Premise of Acensison 16:13 Themes of Nick’s books 22:15 Why Techno-thrillers 24:00 Life as an author 27:18 Nicks’s Background 29:29 Does living Edinburgh impact your settings 33:37 What is your writing process 40:04 The perfect book give us 3 recommendations47:45 Two truths and a lie 53:25 Where to find Nicholas Binge online Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: nancy@farq-media.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

    56 min

  4. 12/26/2025

    Movies, Shows, and Books of 2025 RANKED! — All Our Book Club Picks

    Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsTo experience more amazing stories with us in 2026, join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  It's been an incredible year on Patreon with our 1500+ members, enhancing our reading, watching, and discussions every month! We chose a story every month and released a schedule for reading the book and watching screen adaptations. We watched amazing shows and movies adapted from these awesome books, and got to compare and contrast the two media, while fully immersing ourselves in the stories. Obviously, we've put out hours and hours of deep dive episodes on each of these stories, but now the moment has come to rank all the adaptations and books, and see what comes out on top. Is it really true that "the book is always better"? We'll find out in this episode!Huge thanks and so much love to our family on Patreon! It has been a wonderful, amazing year full of stories. We can't wait for 2026!Let’s connect!Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: nancy@farq-media.comTikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

    1h 13m

  5. 12/17/2025

    Our Intentional Reading Goals for 2026 - We Might Stop Rating Books???

    Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsIn this episode, we’re reflecting on the reading goals we set for 2025, and looking to change some things up for 2026! Maddie is focusing on WISDOM in the new year, and Kristen is focusing on being TRUE. From book series to rating systems to new TBR wheels, we’re breaking down how we plan to approach our reading, reviewing, buying, and sharing next year. Timestamps00:00 Intro01:58 Did we read the book series we committed to in 2025?08:05 What genres did we read in 2025?11:31 What series/genres are we prioritizing in 2026?23:09 Did Maddie keep her promise to read less than 100 books in 2025?27:35 Thoughts on reading less audiobooks in 2025 and 202633:22 Thoughts on rating books — will it change in 2026?48:49 Kristen’s values for 202652:04 Looking back on rereads in 202553:30 How we’re using TBR wheels in 2026!01:03:43 Our intentions for 2026Series Maddie Committed to Read in 2025:Of Blood and Bone by John GwynneThe Age of Madness by Joe AbercrombieLicanius by James IslingtonThe Dandelion Dynasty by Ken LiuSeries Maddie Actually Read in 2025:The Wheel of Time by Robert JordanLicanius by James IslingtonThe Fitz and the Fool by Robin HobbLiveship Traders by Robin HobbThe Dandelion Dynasty by Ken LiuThe Neapolitan Quartet by The Empire Trilogy by Raymond E. Fesit and Janny WurtsThe Devoured Worlds by Megan E. O'KeefePines by Blake CrouchThe Lost Queen by Signe PikeLord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienThe Series Kristen Actually Read in 2025:Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienPines by Blake CrouchBridgerton by Julia QuinnAn Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa TahirRavenhood by Kate StewartInfernal Devices by Cassandra ClareGreen Bone Saga by Fonda LeeFarseer by Robin HobbLiveship Traders by Robin HobbWhat the River Knows by Isabel IbañezSix of Crows by Leigh BardugoRuthless Boys of the Zodiac by Caroline Peckham and Susanne ValentiSeries Kristen DNFd in 2025:The Red Queen by Victoria AveyardPriority Series on Kristen’s TBR for 2026:Tawny Man by Robin HobbThe Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin HobbThe Fitz and the Fool by Robin HobbSeries Maddie DNFd in 2025:The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark LawrenceThe Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir (??? TBD)Priority Series on Maddie’s TBR for 2026:A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. MartinThe Expanse by James S. A. CoreyMalazan (At Least Gardens of the Moon) by Steven EricksonFinish Sun Eater by Christopher RuocchioOf Blood and Bone by John GwynneThe Age of Madness By Joe AbercrombieClassics Mentioned:Sense and Sensibility by Jane AustenFrankenstein by Mary ShelleyEmma by Jane AustenLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottDune by Frank HerbertLord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienThe Outsiders by S. E. HintonRebecca by Daphne Du MaurierSherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan DoyleA Book That Could Become a Classic:Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsBooks Maddie Rated Low, But Still Found Valuable:A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. PeckOnyx Storm by Rebecca YarrosThe Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick RothfussBooks Kristen Read to Connect:Chestnut Springs by Elsie SilverThis Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El Mohtar and Max GladstoneBooks We Reread (that haven’t already been mentioned):Ender’s Game by Orsen Scott CardThe Will of the Many by James IslingtonBooks We’re Excited About:Anything by Stephen King!!!The Everlasting by Alex E. HarrowLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: nancy@farq-media.comTikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly

    1h 12m

  6. 12/09/2025

    We Read 200+ Books in 2025 📚🔥📆 Our Favorites From Each Month!

    Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmads In this video, we’re going through our entire 2025 reading year month by month, sharing our very favorite 5-star books and a few that totally missed the mark. Between the two of us, we read 200 books, and these are truly the best of the best that we couldn’t stop thinking about. Timestamps  00:00 Intro 01:43 December 2024 03:58 January  09:09 February  12:18 March 17:07 April  22:15 May 27:18 June 32:16 July  38:01 August  43:44 September 47:25 October 51:03 November Books Mentioned  Zodiac Academy Caroline Peckham and Suzanne Valenti  Man’s Search for Meaning  By Victor E. Frankl  Wind and Truth  By Brandon Sanderson  The Fellowship of the Ring  The Two Towers  By J. R. R. Tolkien  This is How you Loose the Time War  by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone The Wheel of Time  By Robert Jordan  Dinner for Vampires  By Bethany Joy Lenz  What the River Knows Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez Six of Crows Crooked Kingdom  By Leigh Bardugo  Pines By Blake Crouch The Shadow of What was Lost  By James Islington  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott First Time Caller B.K. Borison  Our Infinite Fates  By Laura Steven  The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie Intermezzo  Sally Rooney  Sunrise on the Reaping By Suzanna Collins  The Outsiders  By S.E. Heaton  Sense and Sensibility  By Jane Austen  Enders Game By Orson Scott Card  Fires of Vengeance  Even Winter Of Empire of Dust  By Ryan Cahill  Dungeon Crawler Carl By Matt Dinniman Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta Onyx Storm By Rebecca Yarros  The Realm of the Elderlings By Robin Hobb Gifted and Talented By Olivia Blake  11/22/63 and Fairytale Stephen King Dune Frank Herber  The Knight and the Moth  By Rachel Gillig  Death of the Author  by Nnedi Okorafor Perks of Being a Wallflower By Stephen Chbosky The Gathering Storm By Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson Emma  By Jane Austen An Ember in the Ashes By Sabaa Tahir  Murderbot  By Martha Wells Summer in the City  By Alex Aster  The Ravenhood Series By Kate Stewart  Prophet Song By Paul Lynch  Death of the Nile By Agatha Christie  Writers and Lovers By Lilly King Atmosphere  By Taylor Jenkins Reid Finding Grace By Loretta Rothschild  The dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin Pachinko  By Min Jin Lee From Blood and Ash By by Jennifer L. Armentrout The Dead Romantics By Ashley Poston  Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil By V. E. Schwab  Thursday Murder Club  By Richard Osman Silvercloak  By L.K. Steven  Wellness By Nathan Hill  The Hunting Party  By Lucy Foley  The Spellshop  by Sarah Beth Durst Chestnut Springs Elsie Silver Katabasis  By R.F. Kuang The Dutch House By Ann Patchet  The Blighted Stars Megan E. O Keif  Rebecca  by Daphne du Maurier My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Daughter of the Empire  by Janny Wurts and Raymond E. Feist Not in Love  By Ali Hazelwood  The Compound  by Aisling Rawle The Greenbone Saga By Fonda Lee  Stay True By by Hua Hsu The Dandelion Dynasty  By Ken Liu  The Will of the Many and The Strength of the Few  By James Islington  Frankenstein   By Mary Shelley    Great Big Beautiful Life By Emily Henry  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo  By Taylor Jenkins Reid  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson Nevernight by Jay Kristoff Hamnet  By by Maggie O'Farrell The Lost Queen By Signe Pike The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion By Beth Brower Piranesi  by Susanna Clarke Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself By Dr. Joe Dispenza

    57 min

  7. 12/02/2025

    20 Books We Read in November 📚 | Best & Worst Reads of the Month

    Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our sponsor BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/krisandmadsWelcome back, friends! 📚🤍Today we’re breaking down all 20 books we read in November — yes, TWENTY! We covered a huge mix of genres this month: fantasy, romance, self-help, contemporary fiction, and more. There was one book that seriously disappointed us (hello, 1-star 👎), but also multiple new favorites that earned glowing 5-stars… which we saved for the end because they deserve the spotlight. ✨With the year almost over, we’re in full “finish every series we’ve started” mode so we can hit our 2025 reading goals. We’re excited, motivated, and ready to enter December with the best reading energy possible!Timestamps00:00 Intro 04:03 Fallen Stars by Imani Erriu06:39 Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson11:48 Today’s sponsor Better Help 13:57 Holly by Adalyn Grace 17:26 Nevernight by Jay Kristoff23:25 To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn 29:12 Fallen City Adriene Young34:45 Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel42:30 The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion by Beth Brower47:03 Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir53:33 This is How you Loose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone49:43 The Lost Queen by Signe Pike01:04:30 The Wall of Storms by Kin Liu01:11:33 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy01:14:49 Breaking the Habit of being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza 01:18:20 Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell01:29:54 Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 01:33:32 The Strength of the Few by James Islington Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email our manager: nancy@farq-media.comTikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

    1h 43m

  8. 11/30/2025

    Interviewing LORETTA ROTHSCHILD in London!! | Debut Author of Bestselling Novel: Finding Grace

    Finding Grace is one of our favorite stand-alone novels of the year, as well as one of our favorite love stories we've read in such a long time! We HAD to interview the debut author, Loretta Rothschild, all about it. Plus, after a little social media lurking, we became obsessed with Loretta's style, personality, and original approach to marketing the novel! If we could describe her in a word, it would be ICONIC. So, we couldn't wait to learn all about her hyperfixations, obsessions, her writing process, the adventure of getting published and picked up by her dream agent, and her spoiler-free insights on writing the book itself.Loretta is such a kindred spirit. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did, and that you pick up Finding Grace! https://amzlink.to/az0Eo1yLDw4zaGo in blind, read the first chapter, and then message us with your reaction. This is definitely a book to put on your TBR.If you'd like to watch the video Loretta mentions in the conversation about the house tour that inspired her setting, you can watch it here:    • In Residence: Rose Uniacke - inside the in...  If you'd like the check out the red socks, you can find them here:https://freightstore.co.uk/products/r...If you'd like to learn more about the John Truby writing method, check out his book here:https://amzlink.to/az045Y0Aly8tu The pots (ceramics) Loretta likes are here: https://jwanderson.com/en-us/collections/wedgwood-x-jw-anderson The books Loretta recommends are: The Picture of Dorian Gray https://amzlink.to/az0xwl2INBEM9 Rebecca https://amzlink.to/az0KlGXaEZjsL Reunion https://amzlink.to/az0bPzQxxe2b0Connect with Loretta by following her on socials, or check out her website!https://www.lorettarothschild.com/   Instagram: / lorettarothschild     TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lorettarothschildTo check out a favorite part of the episode, jump to any chapter from the timestamps below!TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro02:15 Loretta Rothschild tells us two truths and a lie07:47 How Loretta came up with the idea for Finding Grace11:20 Connecting with the perfect agent and publisher 18:05 There aren’t any comps for Finding Grace21:03 The themes of Finding Grace26:40 Loretta Rothschild’s writing process 35:27 Loretta’s background and becoming a writer41:30 How Loretta utilizes social media as an author44:09 The iconic red socks, and other niche hyper fixations54:30 What makes the perfect book for Loretta 59:11 Loretta’s top three book recommendationsLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club:   / krisandmadssisterhood  Have a business inquiry? Email our manager: nancy@farq-media.comTikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music, which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #lovestory #romancenovel #findinggrace #lorettarothschild #debutauthor #bookrecommendations #authorinterview

    1h 6m
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5
out of 5
199 Ratings

About

We’re Kris and Mads—sisters, readers, and the creators behind a thriving book and screen club that explores the stories that shape us. On this podcast, we deep dive into the books we’re reading, the shows and films we’re watching, and the bigger themes behind the stories we love. We interview authors, talk with fellow creators, and share honest conversations about storytelling, creativity, and what it means to live a full, meaningful life. Our mission is simple: Share meaningful stories. Seek what matters most. Be joyfully authentic. And empower people to be free and aim high.

Information

  • Creator
    Kristen and Maddie
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kristen and Maddie
  • Show Website
    Kris and Mads

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