Finally a smart book podcast about interesting books by engaging, thoughtful people!

Love the thought that goes into every episode!

Sara & Chelsea make reading classics enjoyable!

Novel Pairings is my favorite resource when I see the same titles over and over on bookish social media. This podcast is the right level of nerdy to challenge, but not overwhelm and helps me get the most out of my reading life.

Constant use of “umm” and “like” distract from the podcast!

If you love classic books you’ll be in heaven listening to this podcast. But even if you’re not into classics, there’s so much more here. The premise is pairing classic books with contemporary literature and they do a great job with that. If you’re an English major at heart, they have classes. They have reviews of new “buzzy” books (and I appreciate that they give an honest opinion rather than toning it down to avoid offending someone). There’s also a book club which relates to a theme (we’re currently reading British social satire books), guest speakers…something for everyone! I’ve been listening to their podcast and Patreon episodes for a year and a half so this review is long overdue. I look forward to listening each week and hope to be listening for a long time to come.

This podcast is the best! It strikes the perfect balance between feeling like you’re chatting about books with friends, getting recommendations from well-read book lovers, and being back in your favorite English class. Every episode is an absolute delight, and although I’m not the biggest classics reader, I enjoy every conversation Sara and Chelsey have and take something new away whether I’ve read the book or not. I’d recommend this podcast to anyone who misses English class, proudly considers themselves to be a bit of a nerd, and appreciates genuine, comfortable conversation about books with other book lovers. Thank you, Sara and Chelsey!

This is the second time I’ve followed the show, because I love reading, and I love what these hosts are trying to accomplish. I think they are great at what they do as far as the content goes. But I wish there was better editing or more preparation on the hosts part. It sounds like there is just so much dead space while they think about what to say and constant uses of “umm” and “like” that is really hard to listen to. I came back to this podcast after about a year thinking that maybe that would have been addressed by this point and sadly it is still very present. And for those reasons, despite the fact that I love what they’re saying, I can’t handle how they are saying it. I really hope that the reviews like mine are given some attention. I would love to come back in another year and find that these issues have been addressed because I really do want to listen to this show and what they have to say.

Great chemistry and conversations! A fun listen

This is a lovely balance of interesting (but not pedantic) discussions of books and culture in general by two very intelligent young women who know their stuff. There’s a nice friendly vibe and pleasant humor between them that gives the listener a feeling of hanging out with real people who happen to know a tremendous amount about literature in many forms. I especially appreciate the lack of controversy. It’s relaxing and entertaining at the same time. Glad I found it!

This is the first episode I’ve listened to. I love the content but the delivery is very choppy. The host doesn’t seem to be well prepared vocally. Practicing a few times before the recording would really improve the podcast.

Love Chelsea and Sara’s content as a way to challenge readers to read better, be more engaged in what we’re reading, and to continue learning even after traditional school is behind us. Fantastic podcast!

Chelsey and Sara are two incredibly thoughtful, life-long learners bringing their expertise and teaching background into a space that makes English class less scary and more accessible! I love listening to their witty banter and interesting insights about classics and what we can learn from them, and their pairings are always interesting.

I’ve devoured almost every episode since finding this podcast a few weeks ago. I love the deep dives into specific books, themes, and literary devices - definitely scratches my itch to be a professional student! But I also love the TBR topplers and book recommendations. They provide a great mix of buzzy, booktok recs and nerdy, literary books. Novel Pairings is great for anyone who wants a more well-rounded reading life!

Love the interesting deep dives into classics. The hosts also present their view points in an accessible and fun way!

This podcast made me want to read all of the books at once.

I can always count on Sarah and Chelsey to give top-notch book recommendations along with insightful, entertaining discussions. Some of my favorite books I’ve found through their podcast and social media! Listen if you love chatting with your friends about books and literary things!

It’s hard to come by relatable, relaxed literature review podcasts that don’t feel like a college seminar, and this is it! I started with the Basil E Frankweiler ep because that was one of my favorite books as a kid, and when you guys discussed what you had remembered from reading it as children, it was EVERYTHING I remember (plus I remember something about box tops and a PO Box?) and I so agree with your observations!

I discovered Novel Pairings earlier this year and have loved listening each week. I don’t have as much time to read as I used to, so this is a much needed escape. It has also helped introduce me to new (and old) books. I spend less time surfing the internet for inspiration and more time reading books I love. The ladies are smart and insightful and they have a warm and positive approach to literary criticism. They’re friendly banter is a joy to listen to. Keep it up!

I love Chelsey and Sara. When I listen, I feel like I’m talking books with my friends.

Chelsey and Sara deliver such cozy, insightful podcast episodes. I love listening to their thoughtful takes on old and new reads!

I love this podcast, its clean, and simple. Its all about books! Very breezy listening vibe and every time I listen I find new authors and new books to love.

This is one of my favorite book podcasts around! The hosts strike the perfect balance of book analysis, speculation, and recommendations for more reading. They are so thoughtful in constructing their episodes and engaging their listeners. Which they published episodes more often because this podcast is all I ever want to listen to!

Of all the podcasts I listen to, the only one I have fired up on release day each week is Novel Pairings. The hosts are smart, kind, and interesting, and their words have enriched my reading life in immeasurable ways. There are no shortage of book podcasts out there, it's true, but for intelligent commentary on both the classics and contemporary fiction, Novel Pairings is the one you need.

Listening to these two lovely ladies feels like having a conversation with my best friend. They are so insightful and both are just such sweet people. I don’t have enough time to read every book that they discuss, but listening to their thoughts helps me have a better understanding of some of the classic literature that I’ve never gotten around to, as well as points me to plenty of new books to add to my list when I do get a chance to read. Thanks for all the work you do!

This is the show I most look forward to clicking play on each week! I found Novel Pairings a couple of years ago after reading The Remains of the Day. I was so eager to “talk” with others about it - or hear others talking about it, at least - so I searched for the title in my podcast app and these ladies popped up. It was exactly the format and tone that this recovering English major was looking for. I’ve been a devoted listener and Classic Club member ever since. The classics deep dives and contemporary pairings have enriched my reading life, encouraging me to both re-read and discover new-to-me titles. Sarah and Chelsea are 100% here to talk books (it’s not a show with a lot of extra, irrelevant gabbing) so they’re respectful of your time and leave you with new insights to keep you engaged and reaching for more books!

Love NovelPairings! Sara and Chelsea are so lovely to listen to (and to follow on Instagram)! I am not a Classics reader, but I find myself seeking out Classics in order to listen to their episode after and provide myself an educational experience to accompany the text. Their love for literature, their degrees and education, and their experience as teachers shine through in every episode where you feel that you are getting a quality deep dive of the literature.

I just discovered this podcast, and even though I wasn’t excited by children’s literature, I decided to give it a try and I’m so glad I did. The discussions are intelligent, interesting, and thought-provoking. Since I find myself enjoying the episodes on kiddie lit so much (and am actually adding a few to my TBR pile), I can’t wait to hear episodes on a genre I have been more traditionally drawn to. This podcast is great for hardcore book nerds like me, but it is entirely accessible to the more casual reader as well.

A wonderful bookish podcast that balances intellectual reflection with the joy of reading. Sara and Chelsea have great rapport.

Intellectually satisfying, this podcast is helping deepen my joy of reading.

I have been listening to the podcast for some time now. I have so enjoyed all of the episodes(I listened to all the previous ones-sometimes more than once). I am looking forward to the Kidd lit and am planning soon to join Patreon. I love books and your episodes are so enlightening. I have selected books from your recommendations. I highly recommend your podcast to all who love books and reading. Linda

As a former English major and teacher, this podcast hits all my vibes! Im always excited to hear what classics will be covered and love the conversation of placing them with modern texts. I feel like I would have loved teaching with Sara and Chelsey! Plus, this podcast helps me check off a few more classics each year.

I’m so excited! Loved this episode and have gotten ALL the recommended books for February. In the mood for this trip down memory lane. Thank you for providing the opportunity!!!

The hosts of Novel Pairings, Sara and Chelsea, give great discussion regarding classic books, along with modern book pairings. This podcast has helped me explore and understand books that I would have not been prompted to select. This is a great podcast to dip in and out of and you have the option of learning more through the offerings on Patreon.

Sara and Chelsea are both so thoughtful in their analyses, and I always walk away with lots of new thoughts on beloved classics and even more pairings added to my TBR. This podcast is such a joy.

Great podcast.. so easy to listen too and make me want to read each pairing .. it is so nice to have wonderful books that take me away to another time and place but remind me they still happen in everyday life today ! Romance is alive and well !

This is one of my favorite podcasts! You get the scholarly discussions that I miss from college, while still being so much fun and relatable!!

I love Chelsey and Sara’s fresh look at the classics. They balance a love for the literature of the past with an awareness of its inveterate flaws. My ability to analyze a text has grown through listening to them. Recommended to English teachers, classic literature readers, and those looking to dip their toes into reading the classics!

2020 was the year that podcasts about books found their way onto my playlist. Of the many pods that I listen to weekly, Novel Pairings is a favorite. I so appreciate Chelsey’s and Sara’s balanced criticism and opinions, as well as their thoughtfulness in offering critiques of the classics through a 21st century lens. The best past, though, has to be the pairings. I have expanded my TBR exponentially thanks to their recommendations. The tone is friendly and comforting, like chatting with dear friends about books. Try this podcast— you won’t be sorry!

Finding this podcast has been a breath of fresh air! Chelsey and Sara always speak intelligently about books and reading. Keep up the great work!

These ladies make reading classics so much fun. I love the way they combine classics with suggestions from contemporary literature.

This delightful podcast was a balm to my soul during the height of the pandemic. Life was stressful and scary working in medicine during those early days and listening to Sara and Chelsey while driving to work helped me relax and allowed me to breathe. Always looked forward to those early Tuesday mornings. I loved listening and growing with this podcast. Sara and Chelsey have allowed me to become a more nuanced and thoughtful reader. Do yourself a favor and soak in all the cozy academia that Novel Pairings so perfectly captures.

tuning into an episode of Novel Pairings feels like the audio equivalent of sipping hot tea while wrapped in a blanket! Chelsey and Sara create a cozy atmosphere chatting about books, bookish culture, and how we can tie our favorite classic reads to modern entertainment. I learn something new each episode and always find conversations I wouldn’t have thought of myself about these reads. And it feels like I’m tuning into a conversation with dear pals. deserves to be noted that the production quality is so high here, they are thoughtful hosts and the listening experience is seamless and lovely.

Loving this podcast this summer. Sara and Chelsey strike the perfect balance of being academic and casualness when discussing their books. Some classics can be daunting but when paired in this fun with contemporary reads, it certainly makes them feel more accessible. Thanks Chelsey and Sara for your work!

I love listening to novel pairings—even when I haven’t read the classic they’re talking about. This podcast is like talking about books with a combination of your friends and the English teachers you always wished you had. I love that they have a little more insight than me on all of these books and the pairings also make it a lot of fun. I’ve added quite a lot of books to my tbr because of these two! Thanks Chelsey and Sara! (Also congrats on your lil babies!!)

I love to relax to these two ladies talking about books. I always learn about new reads to add to my list and the friendship and conversation between the hosts is very comforting!

If I can’t be a permanent English student then I’m happy to have this podcast to fill that need. I love the context and discussions that Chelsea and Sara provide to classics as well as the pairings of course!

Sarah and Chelsea examine both well known classics and less common works that should be discussed more. They are critical yet respectful, always bringing a new perspective. I love the modern pairings- I’ve definitely discovered some new favorites because of this show!

I really enjoy listening to this podcast. The discussion of the books and the pairings are really enjoyable. I was motivated to read George Eliot by a recommendation on this show. Enjoyed the Mill on the Floss and am looking forward to reading Middlemarch. I’m so glad you all are continuing the podcast after your babies were born.

I found this podcast while looking for a discussion of Pride and Predjudice, enjoyed it so much, that I listened to all three and I joined their Patreon so I can hear more. I look forward too hearing many of their other discussions and I've already put a hold on a couple of their recommendations at my local library. Well structured, interesting, Likable well spoken hosts, good production , so glad I found them. Now I have to see if they ever did a discussion of Persuasion , which is my favorite Jane Austen novel.