From the Front Porch

1d ago

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie and Hunter discuss their top 10 favorite books of 2025! Annie 1. A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar 2. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 3. Flashlight by Susan Choi 4. Tilt by Emma Pattee 5. The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett 6. Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li 7. Memorial Days by Geradine Brooks 8. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan 9. Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo 10. Awake by Jen Hatmaker Hunter 1. Audition by Katie Kitamura 2. Flashlight by Susan Choi 3. Ordinary Time by Annie B. Jones 4. Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel 5. Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor 6. A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar 7. Mothers and Sons by Adam Haslett 8. Middle Spoon by Alejandro Varela 9. The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett 10. Alligator Tears by Edgar Gomez Annie - July picks 1. Tilt by Emma Pattee 2. Flashlight by Susan Choi 3. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 4. Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li 5. Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld 6. Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks 7. Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green 8. The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett 9. Lucky Night by Eliza Kennedy 10. Playworld by Adam Ross Hunter - July picks 1. Audition by Katie Kitamura 2. Ordinary Time by Annie B Jones 3. Mothers and Sons by Adam Haslett 4. Alligator Tears by Edgar Gomez 5. Among Friends by Hal Ebbott 6. The Wilderness by Angela Flourney 7. Open, Heaven by Sean Hewitt 8. The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett 9. Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico 10. Exit Zero by Marie-Helene Bertino From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram , Tiktok , and Facebook , and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com . A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here . Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. This week, Annie is reading Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon . Hunter is reading Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club . If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch . We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Dec 11

This week on From the Front Porch, The Bookshelf staff share their favorite books of 2025! To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 559) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app : Olivia: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy Erin: Life, & Death, & Giants by Ron Rindo Keila: Water Moon by Samantha Soto Yambao Kyndall: Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram and Facebook , and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com . A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here . Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. This week, Annie is reading A Beautiful Year by Diana Butler Bass. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch . We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Dec 4

This week on From the Front Porch, it’s an episode of Annie Recommends! In this series, Annie curates a stack of books in a certain genre or theme for you – just as if you walked into our brick-and-mortar store, The Bookshelf. This month, Annie recommends her favorite holiday reads. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 558) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app : A Home for the Holidays by Taylor Hahn Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah by Jean Meltzer Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram and Facebook , and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com . A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here . Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. This week, Annie is reading Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch . We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Nov 27

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in August. You get 10% off your books when you order your November Reading Recap bundle. Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle , which features Annie’s favorite books she read that month. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 557), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app : November Reading Recap Bundle This bundle includes Wreck by Catherine Newman (hardcover) The Land of Sweet Forever by Harper Lee (hardcover) Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman (paperback) (currently backordered) The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Wreck by Catherine Newman How to Survive in the Woods by Kat Rosenfield The Land of Sweet Forever by Harper Lee Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram and Facebook , and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com . A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here . Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. This week, Annie is reading Upward Bound by Woody Brown. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch . We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Nov 20

This week on From the Front Porch, we announce our Conquer a Classic book club selection for 2026! We’re excited to announce A Year With Flannery – a communal exploration of Georgia author Flannery O’Connor’s short stories (and novels). Listen to learn how to join our From the Front Porch Patreon Conquer a Classic book club (you’ll also find details below). To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 556) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app : From the Front Porch Patreon Conquer a Classic 2026 Collection The Complete Stories by Flannery O’Connor Conquer a Classic 2026 Bundle This bundle includes The Complete Stories The Violent Bear it Away Wise Blood Mystery & Manners: Occasional Prose Now is the perfect time to join the From the Front Porch Patreon community and our Conquer a Classic Book Club. One perk of being a Patreon member is being a part of our super-popular, year-long Conquer a Classic book club! Each year, Annie and Hunter select a classic book and read it with our Patreon community over the course of the year. Our Conquer a Classic book club begins in January 2026. Your Conquer a Classic orders ship by Friday, December 12. Join our Conquer a Classic book club: Step 1. Join the Patreon here. You’ll unlock bonus episodes of the podcast where Annie and Hunter discuss Flannery’s works, plus discussion forums with other Conquer a Classic book club members. Step 2. Buy your copy of THE COMPLETE STORIES or your Conquer a Classic bundle here. Your order will include an exclusive reading guide and bookmark. Your order will ship by Friday, December 12. On Patreon , you can choose from two different tiers to join our Conquer a Classic book club: For $5/month, you get: Monthly Conquer a Classic recap episodes with Annie and Hunter for THE COMPLETE STORIES Monthly Porch Visits on Zoom with Annie For $20/month, you get: Monthly Conquer a Classic recap episodes with Annie and Hunter for THE COMPLETE STORIES Monthly Porch Visits on Zoom with Annie Quarterly book club conversations about O’Connor’s books: WISE BLOOD, THE VIOLENT BEAR IT AWAY, and MYSTERY AND MANNERS Biannual movie recap episodes with Annie and Hunter: FLANNERY (2019) and WILDCAT (2023) From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram and Facebook , and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com . A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here . Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. This week, Annie is reading The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch . We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Nov 13

This week on From the Front Porch, it’s an episode of Annie Recommends! In this series, Annie curates a stack of books in a certain genre or theme for you – just as if you walked into our brick-and-mortar store, The Bookshelf. This month, Annie recommends a short list of her favorite nonfiction reads. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 555) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app : Cherished Belonging by Gregory Boyle Awake by Jen Hatmaker Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li Bone Valley by Gilbert King Blessings and Disasters by Alexis Okeowo From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram and Facebook , and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com . A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here . Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. This week, Annie is reading The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch . We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Nov 6

This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another New Release Rundown! Annie, Erin, and Olivia share the November releases they’re excited about to help you build your TBR. When you purchase or preorder any of the books they talk about, enter the code NEWRELEASEPLEASE at checkout for 10% off your order! To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 554) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app : How About Now by Kate Baer Like Family by Erin O. White Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel With Friends Like These by Alissa Lee The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex 59 Minutes by Holly Seddon Helm by Sarah Hall The Tortoise’s Tale by Kendra Coulter Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram and Facebook , and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com . A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here . Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. This week, Annie is reading Journey Towards Morning by Victoria Safford. Olivia is reading The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown. Erin is reading The Tortoise’s Tale by Kendra Coulter. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch . We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Oct 30

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in August. You get 10% off your books when you order your October Reading Recap bundle. Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle , which features Annie’s favorite books she read that month. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 553), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app : A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O’Neill Often I Am Happy by Jens Christian Grondahl - unavailable on ingram Fake Skating by Lynn Painter More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell Bone Valley by Gilbert King October Reading Recap bundle From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram and Facebook , and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com . A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here . Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch . We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.