From The Front Porch

This week on From the Front Porch, it's an episode of Off the Shelf with Annie & Ashley! Annie is joined by friend, cousin, and former colleague, Ashley Sherlock, to chat about what they’re reading – but also what they’re watching, listening to, and buying. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (type “Episode 464” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Annie is reading: The Rise of The Accidentally Permissive Parent by Elizabeth Passarella (an essay on The Cut) Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Ashley is reading: Come & Get It by Kiley Reid Annie is listening to: Come & Get It by Kiley Reid 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 at @bookshelftville, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased onl

This week on From the Front Porch, we have a new series: Annie Recommends! In this series, Annie curates a stack of books in a certain genre or criteria for you – just as if you walked into our brick-and-mortar store, The Bookshelf. Sometimes, you just want a good book list. This month, in honor of February and Valentine’s Day, Annie recommends a short list of her favorite romcoms and romances. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (type “Episode 463” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Betting on You by Lynn Painter Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin Love Buzz by Neeli Tubati Alexander The Bodyguard by Katherine Center 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 at @bookshel

This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another New Release Rundown! Annie, Olivia, and Erin are sharing the February 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 (type “Episode 462” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Annie's books Dixon, Descending by Karen Outen (releases 2/6) Leaving by Roxana Robinson (releases 2/13) Grief is for People by Sloane Crosley (releases 2/27) Olivia's books Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra (releases 2/6) The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown (releases 2/13) The Framed Women of Ardemore House by Brandy Schillace (releases 2/13) Erin's books The Women by Kristin Hannah (releases 2/6) My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez (relea

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in January. You get 10% off your books when you order your January Reading Recap bundle! Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle, which features Annie’s three favorite books she read that month. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (type “Episode 461” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: January Reading Recap Bundle - $78 Mother, Nature by Jedidiah Jenkins Family Family by Laurie Frankel Come & Get It by Kiley Reid All books mentioned in this episode: Mother, Nature by Jedidiah Jenkins Dixon, Descending by Karen Outen Family Family by Laurie Frankel Grief is for People by Sloane Crosley Come & Get It by Kiley Reid From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s dail

This week on From the Front Porch, we have a new episode series: Into the Backlist! Today, Annie changes her focus from new releases to dive into the backlist: the books that came out years ago, the books that didn’t get enough attention, the books you may stumble upon while browsing in an indie bookstore like The Bookshelf. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (type “Episode 460” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode) or or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Frances and Bernard by Carlene Bauer The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff Fire Sermon by Jamie Quatro (unavailable to order) Dear Regina by Flannery O'Connor Gilead by Marilynne Robinson Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You c

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie shines the spotlight on her favorite unsung books of 2023. While these books may not all be five-star reads, they deserve more airtime than they got last year. Did these books fly under your radar, too? Do you want to go to our next Reader Retreat, happening on March 22-24? Now is a great time to follow The Bookshelf on Instagram here so you can access tickets when they’re released to the public on Tuesday, January 16. We hope to see you and your reading buddies there! Learn more about Reader Retreat here and follow us on Instagram here. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (type “Episode 459” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode) or or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: My Husband by Maud Ventura The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams This Is Salvaged by Vauhini Vara Kill Show by Daniel Sweren-Becker The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill Roaming b

Happy New Year! This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another New Release Rundown! Annie, Olivia, and Erin are sharing the October releases they’re excited about to help you build your TBR. What better way to start the year than with new books? 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, visit our website (type “Episode 458” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode) or or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Annie's books: Mercury by Amy Jo Burns (out now) Anna O by Matthew Blake (out now) Black Liturgies by Cole Arthur Riley (releases 1/16) Olivia's books: Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson (releases 1/30) The Fury by Alex Michaelides (releases 1/16) Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook (releases 1/16) Erin's books Invisible Woman by Katia Lief (releases 1/9) The Ladies Rewrite the Rules b

This week on From the Front Porch, The Bookshelf staff share their favorite books of 2023! To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (type “Episode 457” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode) or or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Olivia's favorite: The Widely Unknown Myth of Apple and Dorothy by Corey Ann Haydu Erin's favorite: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Kyndall's favorite: Happy Place by Emily Henry Felicia's favorite: The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin Michelle's favorite: You Are My Sunshine by Sean Dietrich 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 at @bookshelftville, 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 below. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at

Merry Christmas, friends! Today on From the Front Porch, Annie reads the New York Sun reporter Francis P. Church’s timeless response to eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s question: “Is there a Santa Claus?” Read the letter from 1897 and learn about its history here. We wish you and yours a peaceful and joyful holiday! Thank you for listening. 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 at @bookshelftville, 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 Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey. If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, t

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie and Hunter (@shelfbyshelf) discuss their top 10 favorite books of 2023. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (type “Episode 455” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode) or or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Annie's 2023 favorites: 1. In Memoriam by Alice Wynn 2. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett 3. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano 4. The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff 5. How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key 6. Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward 7. All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore 8. Shark Heart by Emily Habeck 9. Monsters by Claire Dederer 10. Congratulations! The Best Is Over! by R. Eric Thomas Hunter's 2023 favorites: 1. The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff 2. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray 3. The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue 4. In Memoriam by Alice Winn 5. The Guest by Emma Cline 6. Monsters by Claire Dederer 7. Holler, Child by Latoya Watkins 8. Brother and Sister Enter the Forest

This week on From the Front Porch, it’s time for another Literary Therapy session! Our literary Frasier Crane, Annie, is back to answer more of your reading questions and dilemmas. If you have a question you would like Annie to answer in a future episode, you can leave us a voicemail here. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (type “Episode 454” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app: Flight by Lynn Steger Strong Wintering by Katherine May The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell (unavailable to order) Joy Enough by Sarah McColl (unavailable to order) Beartown by Frederick Backman Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund (unavailable to order) Tinkers by Paul Harding Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout Backwater by Joan Bauer (unavailable to order) Landline by Rainbow Rowell The Family Game by Catherine Steadman The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson Chri

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in October. 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 three favorite books she read that month. November Reading Recap Bundle - $59 The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring (paperback) Today Tonight Forever by Madeline Kay Sneed (hardcover) Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey (paperback) Get your bundle here. You can get the books mentioned in this episode on our website (type “Episode 453” into the search bar and tap enter to easily find the books mentioned in this episode): The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring The River by Peter Heller Play for Me by Libby Hubscher The Woman in Me by Britney Spears Romney: A Reckoning by McKay Coppins The Happy Couple by Naoise Dolan Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey Today Tonight Forever by Madeline Kay Sneed Begin Again by Helly Acton (releases 4/2/24) Columbine by Dave Cullen From the Front Porch

Happy Thanksgiving! We’re so grateful for you. This week on From the Front Porch, we have a special treat: a recording of our live show from The Bookshelf’s September Reader Retreat! In this episode, Annie, Hunter, and Ashley are joined by extra-special guest Annabel Monaghan, our Reader Retreat featured author, to do a snake draft of their favorite fall things. Enjoy! To purchase or preorder Annabel Monaghan’s books, stop by the store or visit our website: Nora Goes Off Script Same Time Next Summer Summer Romance (releases June 4, 2024) Thank you to this week’s sponsor, Visit Thomasville. Fall is a wonderful time to see Thomasville, Georgia!  If it’s time to hit the road for a quick getaway, we’re exactly what you’re looking for! You can rekindle your spark, explore historical sites, indulge in dining out, shop at amazing independent stores, and finally relax and unwind. There’s no better getaway than Thomasville!  Whether you live close by or are passing through, we hope you'll visit beautiful Thomasville,

This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another installment of Bookmarked with Annie & Hunter! In Bookmarked episodes, Annie and Hunter read or re-read an award-winning book that came out several years prior. This time on Bookmarked, they’re discussing Empire Falls by Richard Russo. You can purchase your copy here. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (type “Episode 451” into the search bar and tap enter to easily find the books mentioned in this episode): Empire Falls by Richard Russo Tinkers by Paul Harding Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri Bleak House by Charles Dickens Thank you to this week’s sponsor, Visit Thomasville. Fall is a wonderful time to see Thomasville, Georgia!  If it’s time to hit the road for a quick getaway, we’re exactly what you’re looking for! You can rekindle your spark, explore historical sites, indulge in dining out, shop at amazing independent stores, and finally relax and unwind. There’s no better getaway than Thomasville!  Whether you live

This week on From the Front Porch, you get a sneak peek at our super-popular Conquer a Classic book club for Patreon supporters! Today's episode is an excerpt from one of Annie and Hunter's Patreon-exclusive discussions about Bleak House, our Conquer a Classic book of 2023. Do you want to Conquer a Classic with us in 2024? Now is the perfect time to join Patreon and read along with our bookish community from across the globe. Join Patreon to unlock exclusive episodes where Annie and Hunter discuss Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, our Conquer a Classic pick for 2024! We'll read this 20th-century American western together over the next year starting in January. If already own Lonesome Dove, you can access the reading tracker for free as a Patreon member, or purchase a digital PDF download here. To conquer Lonesome Dove with us in 2024, follow these three steps: 1. Join our Patreon community at the $5, $20, or $50 levels here. 2. Stop by the store, call us at (229) 228-7767, or order your copy of Lonesome Dove

This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another New Release Rundown! Annie and Olivia are sharing 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! Are you ready to get in the holiday spirit? Cross everyone off your holiday shopping list at The Bookshelf’s super-popular virtual holiday events! Tickets are $15. Each event takes place online via Zoom. If you can’t join us live, you’ll have access to a recording after the event. Get your tickets to the virtual events here: Adult Holiday Literary First Look ticket – You’ll find the perfect books to give everyone on your holiday shopping list: from your hard-to-buy-for dad, to your best friend who’s read everything, to your mother-in-law. Whether you’re shopping for friends and fam or a treat for you, Annie has tried-and-true recommendations! Kid's Holiday Literary First Look ticket – You’ll find the perfect book

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in October. 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 three favorite books she read that month. Get your bundle here. You can get the books mentioned in this episode on our website (type “Episode 448” into the search bar and tap enter to easily find the books mentioned in this episode): Cross everyone off your holiday shopping list at The Bookshelf’s super-popular virtual holiday literary previews, plus our Holiday Market for bookish gift items! Tickets are $15. Each event takes place online via Zoom. If you can’t join us live, you’ll have access to a recording after the event. Get your tickets to the virtual events here: Adult Holiday Literary First Look ticket – Annie will walk you through the best books to give to everyone on your list: from your hard-to-buy-for dad, to your best friend who’s read everything, to your mother-in-la

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie is chatting with her mom, Susie, about books for readers with PG-13 tastes. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (type “Episode 447” into the search bar and tap enter to easily find the books mentioned in this episode): Thrush Green by Miss Read Mrs. Porter Calling by AJ Pearce What If It’s Wonderful by Nicole Zasowski Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey How to Pray by C.S. Lewis Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan Thank you to this week’s sponsor, Visit Thomasville. Fall is a wonderful time to see Thomasville, Georgia!  If it’s time to hit the road for a quick getaway, we’re exactly what you’re looking for! You can rekindle your spark, explore historical sites, indulge in dining out, shop at amazing independent stores, and finally relax and unwind. There’s no better getaway than Thomasville!  Whether you live close by or are passing through, we h

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie, Olivia, and Packaging/Shelf Subscription Coordinator Keila create Spooky Book Flights! Book flights are a stack of three books curated around a certain theme or topic. Today, they’re choosing books with eerie vibes to help you celebrate the season. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (you can type “episode 446” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode): Annie's Spooky Book Flight - $83.98 Kill Show by Daniel Sweren-Becker Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon Olivia's Spooky Book Flight - $75.98 Dead Water by C.A. Fletcher Cold People by Tom Rob Smith Mister Magic by Kiersten White Keila's Spooky Book Flight - $74.00 The September House by Carissa Orlando A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine Thank you to this week’s sponsor, Visit Thomasville. Fall is a wonderful time to see Thomasville, Georgia!  If it’s time to hit the

This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another New Release Rundown! Annie, Olivia, and Erin are sharing the October 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, visit our website (type “Episode 441” and tap enter into the search bar to easily find the books mentioned in this episode): Annie's books: Hell If We Don't Change Our Ways by Brittany Means Heirloom Rooms by Erin Napier Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward (10/24) Olivia's books: The Bell in the Fog by Lev AC Rosen (10/10) Distant Sons by Tim Johnston (10/17) Juniper’s Christmas by Eoin Colfer (10/31) Erin's books: The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young (10/17) The Berry Pickers by Alison Peters (10/31) Absolution by Alice McDermott (10/31) Thank you to this week’s sponsor, Visit Thomasville. Fall is a wonderful time to see Thomasville, Georgia!  If it’s tim