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Unabridged Podcast
Welcome to Unabridged! Ashley Dickson-Ellison and Jen Moyers (shown left to right in the photo) talk books, share recommendations, and celebrate all things bookish. On our blog (see our posts below!) we share bookish faves, pub day shout-outs, show notes, and book reviews.
Want to get more involved? Check out our 2023 reading challenge, join our buddy reads or book club on Instagram, or sign up on Patreon!

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Thirteen Winter Book Recommendations to Read This Season
by Ashley Dickson-Ellison ( @ashley_dicksonellison ) In this curated list of winter book recommendations, I'm sharing books where the season of winter is a pivotal part of the story. (Actually, in two of them, Fredrik Backman's Anxious People and Margarita Montimore's Oona Out of Order , the new year specifically is an important part of the story.) These are not necessarily cozy reads (though some of them are perfect for that!), and the tone, style, and subject matter of eac
4 days ago9 min read


4 Holiday Romances that Earn Their Happy Endings
by Jen Moyers ( @jen.loves.books ) While I'm fairly picky about my holiday reading, I have read some fabulous holiday romances this year! If you're looking for sweet books that don't cross that "saccharine" line, one of these books may be for you. B. K. Borison's Good Spirits ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) This is my first of two takes on A Christmas Carol that I've read and loved this year. (I listened to the audio, thanks to Libro.fm, and highly recommend that format!) Noa
Dec 19, 20255 min read


Jen's Favorite Reads of 2025 - Part 2
by Jen Moyers ( @jen.loves.books ) We've reached the end of the year and my inevitable mix of delight in reflecting on the books I've loved and angst over having to choose my favorites. It's always such an interesting exercise (and I often cheat . . . just a bit). Before I get started, make sure you check out our picks from mid-year—here are Ashley's and mine —and Ashley's end-of-year picks . John Green's Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadli
Dec 17, 20255 min read


Holiday Book Recommendations Perfect for the Season
Curated by Ashley Dickson-Ellison ( @ashley_dicksonellison ) During this holiday season, we're sharing some holiday books that we've loved and reviewed on the blog. I'm pretty selective when it comes to holiday reads, but I've found over the last couple of years that I do enjoy reading some holiday-specific books (as well as seasonal books in general) as we approach different seasons. Maybe I'll try a couple of the ones below that I haven't read yet! For the book reviews, I'l
Dec 4, 20255 min read


Ashley's Favorite Reads of 2025 - Part 2
by Ashley Dickson-Ellison ( @ashley_dicksonellison ) It's hard to believe it's time for a year-end wrap-up post for 2025, but here we are. My reading life has eased up and improved since I finished my grad program in August, but my reading life has still experienced a significant impact this year. However, I do have some favorites from the second half of the year, and I'm excited about the prospect of a vibrant reading year in 2026. Marie Bostwick's The Book Club for Trouble
Dec 3, 20254 min read


Celebrating Indigenous Authors: Curated Book Recs
Curated by Ashley Dickson-Ellison ( ashley_dicksonellison ) We celebrate Indigenous authors at Unabridged, and we wanted to share a few of the many books we've recommended over the years in this curated list. These stories span genres and nations, offering powerful perspectives and unforgettable characters. Whether you’re looking for a deep dive into history, a multi-generational family saga, or a chilling contemporary read, we hope you’ll find something new to add to your TB
Nov 7, 20253 min read


All about Culture: Young Adult and Middle Grade Books that Bridge the Generation Gap
by Ashley Dickson-Ellison ( @ashley_dicksonellison ) I'm updating this post for 2025 with some new favorites! The new recommendations are indicated with an asterisk. I first wrote this in 2021 in preparation for our August Book Club discussion about Balli Kaur Jaswal's Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows . That book had so many amazing threads woven together, but one of them that really resonated with me was the way that generational and cultural differences can be overcome. On
Nov 4, 20257 min read


15+ More Spooky Reads for Your Fall Reading List
by Jen Moyers ( @jen.loves.books ) I thought it might be time for an update of this post from 2019 to share some fabulous horror (or just spooky) reads with you. New recommendations are marked with an asterisk. Because it's been a while since I read some of these books, I'll include the publisher's synopsis with some commentary. *William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) - While I'd watched the movie adaptation before, I had never read its source mater
Oct 22, 20259 min read


16 Deliciously Witchy, Supernatural, and Magical Books Perfect for This Spooky Season
by Ashley Dickson-Ellison ( @ashley_dicksonellison ) Hi! This is a 2025 update for this blog post with several new recommendations for...
Oct 8, 202510 min read


14+ Books Set in Residential Schools
by Jen Moyers ( @jen.loves.books ) I'm a big fan of books set in residential schools, whether they're boarding schools or colleges. There...
Sep 17, 20254 min read


12+ Great YA and Middle Grade Lit Book Picks Addressing Mental Health and Bullying
by Ashley Dickson-Ellison ( @ashley_dicksonellison ) As the school year gets underway for a lot of people, I wanted to share some young...
Sep 3, 20256 min read


Revolution, Resistance, and Resilience: 6 YA Books for Juneteenth
Curated by Jen Moyers ( @jen.loves.books ) As we honor Juneteenth—a day that marks emancipation and the ongoing struggle for Black...
Jun 20, 20255 min read


5 of Jen's Favorite Reads of 2025 So Far
by Jen Moyers ( @jen.loves.books ) Every year, when it comes time to write about my favorite books of the year so far, I agonize . . ....
Jun 18, 20255 min read


Five Great Books by LGBTQ+ Authors to Add to Your TBR
Curated by Ashley Dickson-Ellison ( ashley_dicksonellison ) Looking to add more LGBTQ+ voices to your reading list? In this post, we’re...
Jun 6, 20255 min read


5 of Ashley's Favorite Reads of 2025 So Far
by Ashley Dickson-Ellison ( @ashley_dicksonellison ) It's time for our mid-year round up of favorite reads thus far this year! My...
Jun 4, 20254 min read


10+ YA Mystery (or Mystery-Adjacent) Novels You Must Investigate*
by Jen Moyers (@jen.loves.books) *pun intended This month, our Unabridged Podcast Book Club pick is Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious,...
May 21, 202511 min read


Amazing Books to Read by AAPI Authors (Bonus Recs: Picture Books!)
by Ashley Dickson-Ellison ( @ashley_dicksonellison ) Here are a few of my favorite reads by AAPI authors. I've included some adult picks,...
May 7, 20259 min read


The Future Is Now: 9 Dystopias That Feel Uncomfortably Real
by Jen Moyers ( @jen.loves.books ) Last week, I finished Laila Lalami's The Dream Hotel ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). It's one of those...
Apr 16, 202513 min read


9 Books to Bring Your Reading Mojo Back
by Ashley Dickson-Ellison ( @ashley_dicksonellison ) I know that I've been struggling with my reading right now (playing the Hamilton...
Apr 2, 20256 min read


Welcome - Introduction and Overview
Just getting started with Unabridged Podcast? Welcome! We're Ashley and Jen, and we are both passionate about books and getting them into...
Jan 22, 20202 min read
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