This week, we’re switching things up with a very different kind of book—one Carey picked entirely by its cover (and because BookTok wouldn’t shut up about it). We’re talking about John Green’s Everything Is Tuberculosis. Green educates the reader about a disease that still kills over a million people each year, despite there being a cure since the 1950s. Through the story of Henry, a young man who’s battled TB for years, he blends education with a call to action.

Of course, it’s not all serious—we’ve got updates on the great sourdough saga (are the babies still alive?), stories from Carey’s California birthday trip, and plenty more chaos along the way.

So grab your headphones, your coffee, and that sourdough starter—and let’s get into it.

What's for dinner?

Grilled Chicken & Chopped Veggie Salad with Sesame-Ginger Vinaigrette: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/grilled-chicken-and-chopped-veggie-salad-with-sesame-ginger-vinaigrette-2105595

Get the products we love:

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day: www.mrsmeyers.com

Maui Jim Sunnies: https://www.mauijim.com/US/en_US/shop/sunglasses/fashion/starfish

This week, we’re stepping away from banned books and diving into a story that’s been sitting on Deb’s shelf for a longtime—a gift from Carey that finally got its moment. We’re talking about Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead, her modern retelling of Dickens’ classic David Copperfield. This unforgettable novel follows Damon—aka Demon—a boy born into poverty who faces the harsh realities of foster care, child labor, drug addiction, and the opioid crisis. It’s a book that was both impossible to read and impossible to put down.

We’ll also chat about the chaos of summer break, the start of our sourdough adventures, a full-on kitchen disaster, and yes—Carey’s birthday celebration (plus a brand-new hobby we’re testing out).

What's for dinner:

Spicy garlic noodle stirfry - MUST TRY ITS SO GOOD: https://rainbowplantlife.com/vegan-chili-garlic-noodles/

Taco Bowl FTW: https://simplyscratchmade.com/ground-turkey-taco-bowls/

What we're loving:

Carey's Nike Leggings: https://www.nike.com/t/swift-womens-high-waisted-7-8-running-leggings-with-pockets-6FGPQ6/HJ2252-233

Deb's quick dry polish: https://www.opi.com/collections/rapidry

This week on Off the Shelves, we get into the wild, frustrating, and hot conversation around menopause. Where’s the healthcare? Where’s the support? Why is it still so hard to get help in 2025? We read The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver—OBGYN, badass, and a woman on a mission to create the resources she and her patients never had.

As two women entering this next chapter of life, this book was equal parts eye-opening, maddening, and deeply validating. We wish we’d had it earlier... but we’ve got it now, and we’re talking all about it.

So—grab your protein, collagen, and fiber smoothie. Throw on your weighted vest, pop in those earbuds, and take your hot midlife girl walk while you listen to this one.

We are celebrating a major milestone—Carey’s graduation from Johns Hopkins with her MPH (yes, really—send her a belated congrats!). There’s also a little humble brag about our kids on their academic grind and a fun personality test reveal to round things out.

Let’s get into it.

What's for dinner:

Butternut squash and chicken situation: https://thenaturalnurturer.com/maple-dijon-chicken-and-butternut-squash-dinner/

Viral Hot Honey/Beef/cottage cheese bow: https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/ground-beef-bowls/

What to buy/what do we love:

Stay hydrated: First Endurance, EFS Hydration mix https://firstendurance.com/products/efs-drink

Bag update - here's a dupe that less than half the cost and I love it!

Quince https://www.quince.com/women/italian-handwoven-leather-mini-shoulder-bag?color=taupe&productPosition=1&searchQuery=purse%20&tracker=searchPage__search_section__search_results

This week, we read Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams—a memoir that chronicles her years working for Mark Zuckerberg from 2011 to 2017. It’s an inside look at the disconnect between Facebook’s public image and what was really happening behind the scenes.

There’s a lot we want to say in this episode—so we’ll let the conversation speak for itself. Grab a beverage (maybe a strong one), because this book made us angry on more levels than we expected. Honestly, if you use social media, you should read this book and tell your friends, because Wynn-Williams is not allowed to promote it.

In other news: Carey is rewatching The Handmaid’s Tale and it’s feeling a little too real, and Debbie wonders—are there ever circumstances where a book should be banned?

Dinner Links:

Braised Mexican Beef (Nom Nom Paleo) https://nomnompaleo.com/post/22316250352/oven-braised-mexican-beef

Ginger Lime Chicken

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/ginger-lime-chicken-with-rice-noodles-8584928

Product Links:

ClareV Handbag

https://www.clarev.com/products/petit-moyen-bisque-woven-checker

This week, we’re diving into Chelsea Handler’s newest book, I'll Have What She's Having—an unfiltered, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt look at her journey to becoming the woman she wants to be. It's about self-discovery, sisterhood, and showing up for the people you love.

One thing’s for sure: we both want to be Chelsea when we grow up.

Tune in as we chat about this gem of a book—and also end up talking about a semi-recent “space flight,” cozy PJs, and the eternal quest for the perfect bra.

Dinner Links:

https://whatsgabycooking.com/thai-chicken-coconut-curry/

Product Links:

PJ's https://skims.com/en-gb/products/soft-lounge-lace-cami-and-short-set-blue-garden-print

Best Bra https://shop.join-eby.com/

This week, we read Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler—a powerful, thought-provoking novel and the first in her Earthseed series. It’s our second banned book selection, and we were surprised to learn it’s been restricted in some prisons and schools due to its “controversial” themes, including race, politics, religion, and violence.

We also loved and talk about this NPR interview where Butler was asked to imagine a world without racism—definitely worth a listen: https://www.npr.org/2022/02/03/1078020872/octavia-butler-imagines-a-world-without-racism

Plus, we chat about recent travels, fender benders, and a surprisingly strong affection for Delta Airlines.

In this episode, we talk about Miranda July’s award-winning, “wild, sexy, shocking” autofictional novel, All Fours. While this book isn’t banned, it’s been getting a lot of attention—and we had to find out why. We loved its unhinged glory.

All Fours explores relationships, marriage, midlife, identity, motherhood, and a surprising theme: menopause.

Listen in as we also dive into current fashion trends (yes, jorts!), car shopping, and campus tours.

It’s our first full episode, and we’re so excited! Today, Carey and Deb discuss Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood’s 2003 dystopian novel that has been banned at the state level in public schools. But why? That’s what we set out to find.

Grab a coffee—or your favorite beverage—and listen in!

We’ll also dive into Carey’s obsession with pre-ordering books. How much has she spent? And will we read the second book in Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy? You’ll have to listen to find out.