Novel Pairings

For our final episode of Novel Pairings, we opened up the mailbag to answer your thoughtful listener questions. From reflections on our favorite classics to behind-the-scenes stories, we're sharing a lot today! And celebrating the journey we've shared with all of you. We'll also be offering some closing thoughts on what this podcast has meant to us, what we've learned along the way, and what comes next for each of us. 
This is our final season with Novel Pairings, but we are saving all of our episodes right here for you to return to, plus we're opening a shop for our exclusive classes and recap series.  To learn more about our storefront and to get all new announcements, make sure you are following @novelpairingspod on Instagram and subscribed to novelpairings.substack.com.
Novel Pairings Bundles: novelpairings.gumroad.com
 
Find us individually and continue to read with each of us here:
Chelsey – IG: @chelseyreads | Substack: chelsey.substack.com
Sara – IG: @fictionmatters | Substack: fictionmatters.substack.com
 
Books Mentioned
Summer by Edith Wharton
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Quicksand by Nella Larsen
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Passing by Nella Larsen
The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
1984 by George Orwell
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
There is Confusion by Jesse Redmond Fossett
 
Also Mentioned
From the Front Porch/The Bookshelf Conquer a Classic with Annie and Hunter
Shelf by Shelf on Substack
The Novel Tea Podcast
250th Anniversary of Jane Austen
Smith and Taylor Classics
Persephone Books
McNally Editions
New York Review
Penguin Modern Classics
Center for Fiction
Wuthering Heights adaptation
Pride and Prejudice adaptations

Get ready to load your summer totes with compelling reads, both new and old! We're sharing our anticipated summer releases on today's episode, carefully curated from a long list of captivating titles to shake up your TBR. As always, we've included some perfectly paired backlist favorites to enjoy while you wait for the buzzy new books. 
Today, we explore an exciting mix of poignant literary fiction, immersive historical narratives, richly layered contemporary stories, and even a touch of magical realism to spark your imagination. You'll find everything from heartfelt memoirs threaded with nostalgia to sharp, insightful critiques of today's world, alongside enchanting tales perfect for reading all season long. 
This is our final season with Novel Pairings, but we are saving all of our episodes right here for you to return to, plus we're opening a shop for our exclusive classes and recap series. Stay tuned. To learn when our shop opens up and to get all new announcements, make sure you are following @novelpairingspod on Instagram and subscribed to novelpairings.substack.com.
Find us individually and continue to read with each of us here:

Chelsey – IG: @chelseyreads | Substack: chelsey.substack.com
Sara – IG: @fictionmatters | Substack: fictionmatters.substack.com
 
Books Mentioned
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry 
Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan (5/20)
The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan 
Dubliners by James Joyce
I'll Tell You When I'm Home by Hala Alyan (6/3)
Disoriental by Négar Djavadi 
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Challenger by Adam Higginbotham 
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid 
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (6/3)
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Skipshock by Caroline O'Donoghue (6/3)
A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab
The Möbius Book by Catherine Lacey (6/17)
Audition by Katie Kitamura
Liars by Sarah Mangusso
The Tiny Things are Heavier by Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo (6/24)
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott (6/24)
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (8/26)
Poppy War Trilogy by R.F. Kuang 
Babel by R.F. Kuang 
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang 
The Inferno by Dante Alighieri
The Odyssey by Homer
The Austin Affair by Madeline Bell
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Heart the Lover by Lilly King
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue
The Unveiling by Quan Berry
Endurance by Alfred Lansing
 
Also Mentioned
Paperback Summer Reading Guide 
Libro FM
The Irishification of Pop Culture (The Culture Study Podcast)
LuLaRich Documentary

We're wrapping up our Emma readalong with final reflections on rereading, standout themes, and Austen's legacy.  We also chat about how we're marking the momentous occasion of Jane Austen's 250th anniversary and the ways this milestone is resonating with us as readers. 
This is our final season with Novel Pairings, but we are saving all of our episodes right here for you to return to, plus we're opening a shop for our exclusive classes and recap series. Stay tuned. To learn when our shop opens up and to get all new announcements, make sure you are following @novelpairingspod on Instagram and subscribed to novelpairings.substack.com.
Find Chelsey and Sara on Substack, too! 
Chelsey, The Eclectic Reader:  chelsey.substack.com
Sara, Fiction Matters: fictionmatters.substack.com
Books Mentioned
The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
Superworm by Julia Donaldson

Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney

Wild for Austen by Devoney Looser

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Juvenilia by Jane Austen

Of Love and Friendship by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

 
Also Mentioned
Novel Pairings Readalongs

Emma Footnotes #4: Foils

250 Years of Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice Series on Netflix

Hamilton

Pride and Prejudice on the big screen

Emma

Slow Horses

In this episode, we reach the culmination of Jane Austen's Emma, where secrets are revealed, relationships evolve, and characters face pivotal choices that will shape their futures. We discuss shifting affections, unexpected engagements, and the web of emotions that bind the residents of Highbury together. We will conclude our Emma series with a finale reflection episode in a few weeks to give you a chance to catch up on recaps. 
This is our final season with Novel Pairings, but we are saving all of our episodes right here for you to return to, plus we're opening a shop for our exclusive classes and recap series. Stay tuned. 
To learn when our shop opens up and to get all new announcements, make sure you are following @novelpairingspod on Instagram and subscribed to novelpairings.substack.com.
Find Chelsey and Sara on Substack, too! 
Chelsey: The Eclectic Reader @  chelsey.substack.com
Sara: Fiction Matters @ fictionmatters.substack.com
 
Books Mentioned
Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters by William Austen-Leigh
Also Mentioned
Novel Pairings Odyssey Readalong
Novel Pairings Les Miserables Readalong

In this episode, we're unpacking so many juicy moments—from Frank Churchill's restless return to Highbury and the long-awaited ball at the Crown Inn to Harriet's shocking misadventure and Mr. Knightley's heroic turn on the dance floor. We'll explore Emma's ever-active imagination, Mrs. Elton's relentless meddling, and some subtle but oh-so-important moments between Emma and Mr. Knightley. 
Plus, we'll chat about strawberry-picking at Donwell Abbey, and all the little details that make this part of the novel so rich and entertaining. 
As a reminder, we've historically shared these "big book readalong" recap series in our patreon community, but to celebrate five years of podcasting, we're sharing it on the public feed! We're so excited to have all of you reading with us. To grab our reading schedule, go to our instagram page @novelpairingspod for our pinned post or subscribe to our free weekly substack newsletter where you'll get reminders and announcements at novelpairings.substack.com.
This is our final season with Novel Pairings, but we are saving all of our episodes right here for you to return to, plus we're opening a shop for our exclusive classes and recap series. Stay tuned.