pleasure reading: curated book lists + tbrs with friends

Softer Sounds
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a podcast about the pleasure of reading, featuring curated book lists, author rankings, tiny book chats and more. hosted by amelia hruby, phd.

  1. 🌹 5 Underrated Romance Writers (According to Me)

    6D AGO

    🌹 5 Underrated Romance Writers (According to Me)

    It's almost Valentine's Day! And my sweetheart reading is in full swing to celebrate. In this episode, I'm sharing my five fave romance writers — who I think are woefully underrated. Tune in to hear me rave about Lizzy Dent, TJ Alexander, Talia Hibbert, Naina Kumar, and Falon Ballard. I'll talk about my fave books, upcoming releases, and more. Find all the books here, and have a romantic week! xoxo  More from Amelia:📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph📝 Send me a message📚 Shop my used books on Pango🎁 Gift me a book from my Bookshop wishlist

    18 min
  2. 🖇️ 2026 Reading Plans + Book Recs on Palestine, Astrophysics, and Big Tech

    JAN 23

    🖇️ 2026 Reading Plans + Book Recs on Palestine, Astrophysics, and Big Tech

    Happy 2026, readers! Last year, I made some biggggg reading plans and proceeded to accomplish... none of them. (I'm looking at you 2025 5-star TBR. 👀) So this year, I'm lowering the bar, embracing my inner mood reader, and thinking about books differently. Tune in to this quick episode, where I share my 2026 reading plans and the process I'm using to build themed TBRs for the year ahead. I also build a few TBRs for us! On the themes of Palestinian liberation, the astrophysics of time loops, and reasons to hate Big Tech. Find all the books right here, and enjoy!  More from Amelia:📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph📝 Send me a message📚 Shop my used books on Pango🎁 Gift me a book from my Bookshop wishlist

    23 min

  3. 12/31/2025

    ⏱️ Wrapping Up My Reading Year — 60-Second Reviews of All 31 Books I Read this Fall

    Happy New Years Eve, readers! In this comeback episode, I'm sharing quick-hit reviews of all the books I've read since September. Tune in for Parisian magicians, murderous influencers, werewolf romantics, gay hockey players (yes, I got into Heated Rivalry...), and more! I also talk a bit about my TBR failures, how many books I read this year (123!), and my reading goals for 2026. Find all the books right here: https://bookshop.org/lists/pleasure-reading-fall-2025  More from Amelia:📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph📝 Send me a message📚 Shop my used books on Pango🎁 Gift me a book from my Bookshop wishlist

    47 min

  4. 10/10/2025

    🍁 9 New Releases for a Cozy/Sexy/Spooky Fall

    Fall is my favorite season for reading, because I love cozy blankets, warm lattes, and books that make me feel some kind of way. In this episode, I’m sharing books for my 3 fave fall feelings: cozy, sexy, and spooky. 🧶💄👹 It’s a Libra & Scorpio season adventure, full of amazing reads that just came out this year! ALSO! I just published a new book of my own. It’s called Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media, and you can pick up a paperback or an ebook right here. Recommended Books (with affiliate links): A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu MandannaDragon Fires Everywhere by Hazel BeckGhost Business by Jen DeLucaZomRomCom by Olivia DadeArcane Academy by Elise KovaPlay Nice by Rachel HarrisonKatabasis by R.F. KuangThe Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-GarciaThe Whistler by Nick Medina  More from Amelia:📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph📝 Send me a message📚 Shop my used books on Pango🎁 Gift me a book from my Bookshop wishlist

    29 min

  5. 08/29/2025

    ⏱️ Mood Reading Extravaganza — 60-Second Reviews of All 47 Books I’ve Read Since March

    OK it's been a minute since I made an episode... but I promise I've been reading! In fact, I've read 47 books since the end of March, and I have plenty to say about them. So get cozy, press play, and tune in to let these 60-second reviews wash over you. There's everything from age-gap romance to cerebral mysteries to weirdo body horror. Plus I found three 5-star reads this summer! Find all the books here: https://bookshop.org/lists/pleasure-reading-spring-summer-2025  More from Amelia:📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph📝 Send me a message📚 Shop my used books on Pango🎁 Gift me a book from my Bookshop wishlist

    49 min

  6. 07/11/2025

    💋 11 Books on my Queer Romance TBR

    Let’s get spicy this summer! This month on the pod, I’m sharing my current TBR that’s full of sweet and sexy queer romance novels. Tune in to hear me rave about Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and then to share how these 10 other romances landed on my bedside book stack. Recommended Books (with affiliate links): Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins ReidTriple Sec by TJ AlexanderFor Her Consideration by Amy SpaldingBecause Fat Girl by Lauren Marie-FlemingBrewed with Love by Shelly PageFlirting Lessons by Jasmine GuilloryMy Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl WilsnerGirl Crushed by Katie HeaneyThey Both Die at the End & The First to Die at the End by Adam SilveraHeartwaves by Anita KellyDelilah Green Doesn’t Care, Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail & Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake And if you find yourself in Portland, I highly recommend checking out Grand Gesture Books!   More from Amelia:📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph📝 Send me a message📚 Shop my used books on Pango🎁 Gift me a book from my Bookshop wishlist

    28 min

  7. 06/20/2025

    ✌️ A Chill Treatise on Mood Reading — 17 Recs with Rachel Ropeik

    Pull out your mood rings, because this week we're reading by vibes! Today I'm returning to the pod with an extra special guest, Rachel Ropeik. Rachel is a cultural catalyst and pirate who works with equal parts wisdom and whimsy. From navigating the halls of the Guggenheim, the Brooklyn Museum, and MoMA to setting sail as a consultant changemaker, she blends thoughtful disruption and playful innovation in work with both cultural organizations and individuals. Rachel reached out to me this spring to ask if we could chat about our different reading styles. And even though I was deep in a reading slump... I still said YES PLEASE! In this conversation, Rachel and I unpack the concept of "mood reading" and share a few of the moods that inspired our recent reads. Tune in for over a dozen vibe-specific recs, including: From Rachel: ​The Antidote by Karen RussellThe Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha PulleyWe Will Rest!: The Art of Escape by Tricia Hersey​Rest is Resistance by Tricia HerseyThe Nap Ministry's Rest Deck by Tricia HerseyAnnihilation by Jeff VanderMeerThe Mars House by Natasha PulleyThe Giver by Lois LowryFrom Amelia: Problematic Summer Romance by Ali HazelwoodThe Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-DaltonGhost Station by S.A. BarnesThe Deep by Rivers SolomonThe Idea of You by Robinne LeeMistakes Were Made by Meryl WilsnerThe Song of Achilles by Madeline MillerCirce by Madeline MillerNeon Gods by Katee RobertMore links from Rachel: NPR's Book of the Day, NYTimes Read Like the Wind, What To Read If from Elizabeth Held  More from Amelia:📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph📝 Send me a message📚 Shop my used books on Pango🎁 Gift me a book from my Bookshop wishlist

    41 min

  8. 04/11/2025

    ⏳ 4 Non-Fiction Books About Time

    Today we've got our second ever nonfiction list, and it's all about TIME!  Tune in to hear how I've been reimagining the clock with the help of these four books. Then find the (affiliate) links below to purchase them for yourself.  🕰️ Recommended Books Saving Time by Jenny OdellMaking Time by Maria Bowler (sponsored)Dismantling the Master's Clock by Rasheedah PhillipsWorld Enough & Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down by Christian McEwen   More from Amelia:📖 Follow what I'm reading on Storygraph📝 Send me a message📚 Shop my used books on Pango🎁 Gift me a book from my Bookshop wishlist

    18 min
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About

a podcast about the pleasure of reading, featuring curated book lists, author rankings, tiny book chats and more. hosted by amelia hruby, phd.

Information

  • Channel
    Softer Sounds
  • Creator
    amelia hruby, phd
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Softer Sounds LLC

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