3.1M
Downloads
590
Episodes
Welcome to From the Front Porch, a weekly conversational podcast on books, small business, and life in the South, produced by The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia.
Episodes
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another New Release Rundown! Annie and Erin share the August 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 545) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Annie's books:
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (9/2)
Little Movements by Lauren Morrow (9/9)
The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (9/16)
Erin's books:
To The Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage (9/2)
At Last by Marisa Silver (9/2)
The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey (9/16)
Fall Literary First Look tickets
Thank you to this week’s sponsor, Discover Thomasville. Gracefully tucked within the storied Red Hills of South Georgia, Thomasville curates a distinguished Downtown experience that meanders along several blocks of our iconic red brick streets. Here, bespoke boutiques, master craftsmen, coveted antique art purveyors, and celebrated culinary artisans converge in harmony with the cultural richness of the Pebble Hill Plantation art tour and the tranquil allure of Birdsong Nature Center. Here, you Discover the Soul of the South. Here, you Discover Thomasville. Learn more by visiting thomasvillega.com/news.
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 One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune. Erin is reading A Rather Peculiar Poisoning by Chrystal Schleyer.
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.
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
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 August Reading Recap. 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 544), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
The Names by Florence Knapp
The Most by Jessica Anthony
The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (releases 9/16)
A Rebellion of Care by David Gates
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (releases 9/2)
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
Fall Literary First Look Tickets
Annie's August Reading Recap Bundle - $59
The Most by Jessica Anthony
A Rebellion of Care by David Gates
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
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 listening to Dominion by Addie E. Citchens.
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.
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, we have another episode of Summer Readings! In this series, Annie introduces you to one book you should read this summer by reading an excerpt (with permission from publishers).
Today, Annie reads poems from different poetry collections. Use code SUMMERREADINGS at checkout to get 10% off the books below.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 543) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
A Poem to Read Aloud Every Day of the Year by Liz Ison
A Bit Much by Lyndsay Rush
And Yet: Poems by Kate Baer
How About Now: Poems by Kate Baer (releases November 4th)
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 Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson.
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.
Thursday Aug 14, 2025
Thursday Aug 14, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another episode From the Archives! In this series, we’re sharing some of our favorite past episodes of the show while Annie is on maternity leave. Enjoy today’s episode about Annie’s favorite books of all time from 2023.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 542) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
The Mothers by Brit Bennett
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott (unavailable to purchase)
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Updated mentions since the podcast originally aired:
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
James by Percival Everett
Matrix by Lauren Groff
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 The Eights by Joanna Miller.
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.
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, we have another episode of Summer Readings! In this series, Annie introduces you to one book you should read this summer by reading an excerpt (with permission from publishers).
Today, Annie reads a passage from Sophie Elmhirst’s book A Marriage at Sea. Use code SUMMERREADINGS at checkout to get 10% off A Marriage at Sea.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 541) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst
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 The Eights by Joanna Miller.
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.
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another episode From the Archives! In this series, we’re sharing some of our favorite past episodes of the show while Annie is on maternity leave. Enjoy today’s episode about traveling through books.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 540) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Link to The Bookshelf's Libro.fm storefront
Morgan Page's Substack, In Residence
Morgan Page's podcast, That's The Spirit
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Ordinary People by Diana Evans (unavailable for purchase)
L’Appart by David Leibovitz (unavailable for purchase)
The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard Morais
The Vacationers by Emma Straub
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (unavailable for purchase)
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
The Next Great Jane by KJ Going (unavailable for purchase)
Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Tangerine by Christine Mangan (unavailable for purchase)
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Malloy (unavailable for purchase)
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 The Names by Florence Knapp.
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.
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, we have another episode of Summer Readings! In this series, Annie introduces you to one book you should read this summer by reading an excerpt (with permission from publishers).
Today, Annie reads a passage from Leila Mottley’s new book The Girls Who Grew Big. Use code SUMMERREADINGS at checkout to get 10% off The Girls Who Grew Big and Nightcrawling this week.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 539) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
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 The Secret History of the Rape Kit by Ragan Kennedy.
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.
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another episode From the Archives! In this series, we’re sharing some of our favorite past episodes of the show while Annie is on maternity leave. Enjoy today’s episode from 2022 all about audiobooks with beloved guest and Annie’s husband, Jordan Jones, just in time for road trip season.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 538) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Annie's picks:
Anna K by Jenny Lee, narrated by Jenna Ushkowitz (Libro.fm link)
Falling by TJ Newman, narrated by Steven Weber (Libro.fm link)
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman, narrated by Kristen Sieh (Libro.fm link)
Going There by Katie Couric, narrated by Katie Couric (Libro.fm link)
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz, narrated by Kimberly Wetherell and Rossmery Almonte (Libro.fm link)
Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett, narrated by Katie Schorr (Libro.fm link)
River of the Gods by Candice Millard, narrated by Paul Michael (Libro.fm link)
Taste by Stanley Tucci, narrated by Stanley Tucci (Libro.fm link)
Upgrade by Blake Crouch, narrated by Henry Leyva (Libro.fm link)
The Wreckage of My Presence by Casey Wilson, narrated by Casey Wilson (Libro.fm link)
You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar, narrated by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar (Libro.fm link)
Jordan's picks:
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, narrated by a full cast (Libro.fm link)
The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien, narrated by Rob Inglis (Libro.fm link)
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, narrated by a full cast (Libro.fm link)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon, narrated by Jeff Woodman (Libro.fm link)
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough, narrated by a full cast (Libro.fm link)
Defending Jacob by William Landay, narrated by Grover Gardner (Libro.fm link)
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, with multiple narrators (Libro.fm link)
Furious Hours by Casey Cep, narrated by Hillary Huber (Libro.fm link)
Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, narrated by Daniel Nayeri (Libro.fm link)
Death Is But a Dream by Christopher Kerr, narrated by Fred Sanders (Libro.fm link)
The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe, narrated by Tom Parks (Libro.fm link)
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 listening to The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner, narrated by Dakota Fanning (Libro.fm link).
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.
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, we have a new episode series: Summer Readings! In this series, Annie introduces you to one book you should read this summer by reading an excerpt (with permission from publishers).
Today, Annie reads a passage from the delightful Annabel Monaghan’s new rom-com It’s a Love Story. Use code SUMMERREADINGS to get 10% off It's a Love Story and all of Annabel's backlist titles this week.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 537) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
It's A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
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 One Last Summer by Kate Spencer.
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.
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, Annie and Hunter discuss the best books of 2025 (so far)!
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 536) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Annie's books:
First five-star read: Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
Most surprising: Blessings and Disasters by Alexis Okeowo (releases August 5th)
Least favorite: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Next on your TBR: The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley, The Names by Florence Knapp
Most anticipated fall release: Same by Hannah Rosenberg (releases October 21st), Heart the Lover by Lily King (releases October 7th)
Annie's Top Ten (So Far):
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's books:
First five-star read: Mothers and Sons by Adam Haslett
Most surprising: Exit Zero by Marie-Helene Bertino
Least favorite: When The Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris
Next on your TBR: Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley
Hunter's Top Ten (So Far):
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 (releases September 16th)
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 A Change of Habit by Sister Monica Clare. Hunter is reading The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong.
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.