We Read That

Jenny and Dani
  • 3.7 (3)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

We are two political scientists (and friends), Jenny & Dani, who love to read books and talk about them, life, and just random thoughts. "We Read That" has two simple rules: (1) one of us picks the book each episode and can't tell the other why they picked it; and (2) the book has to be fiction. If you love books and/or need to dissociate for an hour in the car or while doing chores, we are the right podcast. Come along on the journey with us! Beware: spoilers are everywhere.

  1. Caro Claire Burke's Yesteryear: BookCon 2026, Tradwives, and Female Rage

    APR 27

    Caro Claire Burke's Yesteryear: BookCon 2026, Tradwives, and Female Rage

    IT'S SEASON FINALE TIME, BABYYYY! (Don't worry we will be back June 15, 2026). In our last episode of Season 1, we are tackling the new bestseller YESTERYEAR by Caro Claire Burke. Is it historical fiction? Is it sci-fi? Is it fantasy? Jenny says it's just all about female rage! After a few misses, both Jenny and Dani are on board with this debut novel that encompasses so many different issues regarding womanhood, parenthood, the patriarchy, religion, politics, and the tradwife movement. Are the "good old days" really better? For whom? And why do entertain this type of escapism? Lastly, if you have BookCon 2026 Fomo, listen as Jenny and Dani dissect an event they only know things about based on TikTok videos and news articles. As ever, their professionalism is what others aspire to! Shout out to our new listeners and old. This first season was a blast, and we are excited to produce/host/edit many more episodes for you! -------- Show notes: Find all our information on linktr.ee/wereadthat! Follow us on the socials (literally all of them), and check out our bookshop.org front if you want to read along!

    1h 23m
  2. Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl: Booktok, Princess Donut, and the End of the World

    APR 20

    Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl: Booktok, Princess Donut, and the End of the World

    NEW ACHIEVEMENT! Dani finally did it. She managed to get Jenny to read Dungeon Crawler Carl. Listen how much Jenny internalized the apocalypse, and how Dani makes DCC her almost entire personality. We also talk all things BookTok, Hilary Duff, and Pop Culture Around. Follow us on the socials: @WeReadThatPod

    1h 12m
  3. Nicola Yoon's One Of Our Kind: Book Slumps, Racism, and Black Utopia

    APR 13

    Nicola Yoon's One Of Our Kind: Book Slumps, Racism, and Black Utopia

    This week we are discussing Nicola Yoon's One of Our Kind, a fascinating book about a black family that moves to the fictional town of Liberty, CA - a town built specifically for black families to live in and enjoy their lives. Shops are owned by black people, school classes are taught by black teachers, and all cops are black as well. Jazmin and her family move there after a traumatic experience with a white police officer. While King enjoys the vibrant and affluent life style, including the weird spa at the top of the hill, Jazmin can't shake the feeling that something is way off. The book gave us horror/thriller/Get Out vibes. We dig into a conversation on race, racism, and this idea of "escaping white influence". We also give helpful tips (or less helpful) on how to get yourself out of a reading slump. Follow us on the socials: @WeReadThatPod Links from the Episode: https://www.npr.org/2024/06/09/nx-s1-83383/nicola-yoon-on-her-novel-one-of-our-kind-and-trauma-in-black-american-life https://amyletter.substack.com/p/one-of-our-kind-by-nicola-yoon-will https://www.npr.org/2024/12/11/1218506698/code-switch-black-utopians

    1h 5m
  4. Craig Thomas' That's Not How It Happened: Family, Parenting, Adulting, and Hollywood

    APR 6

    Craig Thomas' That's Not How It Happened: Family, Parenting, Adulting, and Hollywood

    We are reading Craig Thomas' That's Not How it Happened (2025), a fantastic novel about a chaotic family dynamic and a memoir that is being optioned for Hollywood. The book touches upon themes of parenting kids with special needs, what happens when your kids grow up, how Hollywood thinks of family's with special needs, and the joy and frustrations that parenting and adulting bring. Also, we realize that Jenny has never read a duology after Dani explains what it is. We get in the weeds with casting choices, and Jenny has a thing about odd numbers. As always listen along as we dissect yet another book! ------- Follow us on all socials @WeReadThatPod Find us on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/wereadthat

    1h 2m
  5. Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary: Space Sci-Fi, Competent Men, Bad Ass Science Women, and Rocky

    MAR 30

    Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary: Space Sci-Fi, Competent Men, Bad Ass Science Women, and Rocky

    Jenny and Dani did a thing! They read AND watched Project Hail Mary; the latter even in the same zip code! This special and timely episode covers the book (highs and lows) and the movie (how pretty is Ryan Gosling?). Dani talks all things science (no you do not get a degree in "science") and music in the movie. Jenny nerds out about pop culture, sci-fi, and political science. So yeah, classic episode as per usual. Join them in discussing the important themes of PHM, including collectivism vs. individualism, morality, climate science, friendship, science, and belonging.

    1h 2m
  6. Marisa Kashino's Best Offer Wins, Millennial Dreams, Real Estate, and Book Fandoms

    MAR 23

    Marisa Kashino's Best Offer Wins, Millennial Dreams, Real Estate, and Book Fandoms

    Dani and Jenny talk all things real estate, murder durder, and whether today's book is a comedy or a thriller. They also dissect good book merch vs bad book merch. Join the fun! Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, and Linkedin: @WeReadThatPod

    1h 8m
  7. Samantha Sotto Yambao's Water Moon, Ethereal Fantasy, Dan Brown, and Lesbian Vampires

    MAR 16

    Samantha Sotto Yambao's Water Moon, Ethereal Fantasy, Dan Brown, and Lesbian Vampires

    Join Jenny and Dani as they dissect Water Moon (2025), a fantasy novel by Samantha Sotto Yambao. This book, which feels like cotton candy and rosy colored glasses were a lifestyle, asks us all profound questions about the meaning of life, free will, and regret - all while waxing essentially lyrical poetry. Jenny also gives a hard pitch for Dan Brown's Origins (2017), and Dani only has VE Schwab on her mind.

    1h 14m
  8. Alice Feeney's Beautiful Ugly: Historical Fiction, Television, and Plot Twists

    MAR 9

    Alice Feeney's Beautiful Ugly: Historical Fiction, Television, and Plot Twists

    Jenny and Dani dive into the world of Alice Feeney's Beautiful Ugly, which gives them massive Shutter Island Vibes. Listen along as they also discuss their favorite book series, the beauty of book series with naval war ships, and why some series stick with us and others don't. Obviously Harry Potter makes an appearance as well, because why not?

    1h 10m
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Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

We are two political scientists (and friends), Jenny & Dani, who love to read books and talk about them, life, and just random thoughts. "We Read That" has two simple rules: (1) one of us picks the book each episode and can't tell the other why they picked it; and (2) the book has to be fiction. If you love books and/or need to dissociate for an hour in the car or while doing chores, we are the right podcast. Come along on the journey with us! Beware: spoilers are everywhere.

Information

  • Creator
    Jenny and Dani
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jenny and Dani
  • Show Website
    We Read That

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