I look forward to every episode. The conversations are lively, smart, and the recommendations are out of this world! One of my favorite podcasts!

I love listen to interviews with authors I’ve never heard of and discovering new work! I will listen to every episode! Highly recommend!

One of my favorite podcasts! I loved this show with two hosts and just as much with one.

This podcast has some solid bookish content and yet manages not to take itself too seriously. I have discovered some of my favorite reads through SMDB. The cocktail creations are intriguing, too. Thanks!

I’ve tried a few other book podcasts but they didn’t seem to help me find new and interesting books. A lot of them pulled from other bestseller and book club lists. SMFB fits all my needs! A diverse selection, enough summary without spoiling the plot, and a very insightful host.

I’ve loved this pod for some time, and was super bummed to hear that Drew was leaving. But guess what! It’s still great! Christopher knows how to do the deal. And I love that it’s not all about new releases - there’s also a great deal of conversation about backlisted books, which makes the whole thing feel more authentic (and keeps me from wondering whether there was a nudge from publishers to highlight newly printed books). It’s a good one - very down to earth and authentic, not at all showy or performative. Highly recommend!

Seriously, if you listen to this podcast, you’ll never need another book recommendation. The backlog is truly great for uncovering colder books worth checking out and Christopher has solid guests, time after time. Highly recommended.

Great podcast, with excellent conversations and recommendations!

I was recommended this podcast by a friend after raving about another publishing/ book podcast and I have been so thoroughly impressed. All the segments are fun, the hosts are engaging and work well together, and I love another show about books!

Two extremely personable, intelligent people (who have great audio voices!) invite you into their ongoing conversation about books and the reading life. What could be better? I so appreciate the care they put into this, and love feeling included in what they're thinking about!

Just a wonderful show with great conversations and insight. Can’t recommend it highly enough!

SMDB full stop got me back into reading and I am forever thankful to them for that. I have found so many incredible books through this podcast - Drew and Christopher are the ultimate in book recommendations and curation. Their conversations are rich and deep yet light and accessible. Tonally and structurally, too, C&D are just making great radio - just so much fun to listen to. Over time, SMDB has become my most anticipated biweekly release in a sea of podcast subscriptions and I hope more people can find it.

I’ve never really gotten into podcasts. Finally, after finding a short-lived book podcast that I really liked, I tried to find more. I was not very successful. But THIS ONE! This one is good! I appreciate that the guys actually know what they are talking about, approach things in a vaguely (but not not overly-) intellectual manner, and give their guest authors space to steer the conversation. I like the variety of guests that they host as well as the episodes that don’t have any guests, when they do book recommendations and lists. Also, it has a sense of humor, and a refreshing lack of vocal fry. Great work! Oh, also, cocktails. I’m a bartender (or was until Covid) and I really enjoy hearing what they come up with.

If you’re on the hunt for new reading material, or want to hear some fantastic discussions with authors about their works, then you’ll really get down on this podcast. I get a sizable chunk of my reading list from Christopher and Drew’s suggestions. Highly recommend!

I’m English, so yes, this is how you spell favourite... but this podcast is a lovely balance of a welcoming format, two very passionate hosts, some incredibly talented guests, and not a hint of pretension. It’s turned me on to a number of books I love that might not have been on my radar. Thanks guys!

Love this show - Christopher and Drew are super insightful and hilarious and engaging and charming, all at the same time. It's great getting to know about new books and new authors (and new drinks! just learned what an Amaro is). I've picked up several books that they've featured on the show and added many others to my wishlist.

Top notch book talk! Love listening to Drew and Chris talk about books and especially love when they have a writer as a special guest. I have added so many books to my wish list to read now. Great podcast!

Love the friendship between Christopher and Drew and their shared passion for books. They have fantastic guests the discussions are always respectful and insightful. 😀

Christopher and Drew are clearly well-read, but they never use that as a barrier in the quest to help others appreciate books. I use SMDB mostly as a tip sheet for books and authors I haven’t heard of yet — which is some fraction of the books they mention but way more than I could ever get to. Yet, conveniently, their excitement about reading and books is so infectious that it motivates me to read more.

I think this is the best podcast about books out there right now. Super fun and deep conversations without an ounce of pretension. I love this.

I found this podcast while looking for a review of Fever Dream and found much more than that! I discovered Helen Phillips, will read The Need and Trick Mirror, feel now inclined to watch Parasite and then... I’ll listen to Music for Airports! The perfect recommendation’s bundle! Thanks! You’ve won a subscriber!

I love this show! Author interviews and discussions about recommended books are great. I’ve added tons of books to my to read list, and I look forward to reading some pairs together.

Love the mix of drinking, books, and other random stuff. Fun to listen to!

This show is engaging and fun. The hosts are lifelong readers and terrific interviewers, they seem to always choose relevant books and the format is creative and fun: not only do they discuss the book by the author on the show, but they also all discuss another book that they’ve all agreed to read and discuss. Their laughter and knowledge of books and publishing are fun and contagious. Check it out!

SMDB has all you could ever want in a bookish podcast: author interviews, bookish alcoholic beverages, really good book recommendations, and the soothing voices of Christopher and Drew. 😌 I’ve personally had the greatest year of extracurricular reading listening to this podcast and can’t wait to hear (and read) more!

I understand politics is a part of every story and everyone’s life but because my view is different from someone else’s does not mean it is wrong. Tired of being attacked by a bunch of millennials (I am “one” too) for my political view while they sip on champagne and talk to authors with inflated egos who describe themselves as “martyrs.” I just want to hear about books

Just loaded up on Shirley Jackson after listening to Benjamin Dreyer on SMDB. Thanks, again, for a great show and excellent recommendations!

There's a small handful of podcasts that I listen to religiously, whose episodes I depend on to still feel connected to the community I desperately miss since leaving my job in the writing / publishing / literary world. SMDB is one of those podcasts. If you feel like you're living on an island, far away from bookish folks to call your friends—well, you've always got your books, right? But you've also got SMDB. At its best, listening to Chris and Drew (and their top-notch guests) is like having a beer and talking books with my favorite people from grad school. Cheers, y'all. (Other podcasts I rely on: KCRW's Bookworm, New York Times Book Review, Between the Covers, Lit Up, the LARB Radio Hour, and KUT's This Is Just to Say.)

I was looking for a book podcast and started with the first episode. I’ve been listening everyday since! It’s such a good time listening, laughing, and reading along with Christopher and Drew.

I stumbled across this podcast based on a recommendation from a blog on the internet (sorry, cannot remember by whom!) I was looking for a good “book-centric” podcast full of avid readers and great book recommendations. This is it, my friends! Christopher and Drew are lovely to listen to on their own, and the authors they bring on are truly engaging. I love hearing what they’ve bought, what they’re reading, where they draw inspiration from. Having authors bring on a secondary piece of reading for the show is great. More and more books have been added to my “to read” pile! Keep it up!

Any podcast discussions with the Rooster tournament and I’m in! How about the Summer Camp tournament? P. S. Please read more of the books that you talk about, especially when it gets to the semi finals and finals.

I just listened to an episode, and will listen to more. This one was about unreliable narrators, a fascinating subject, and they nailed my own feelings about it with great insight and humor.

I came for Stephanie Danler. I stayed for everything else.

Where has this podcast been all my life? My “to read” list has doubled!

I have heard of so many books from you guys! I love listening to your podcast and I already have anxiety for when I’m all caught up and I can’t binge listening to you all day. I feel like I met new friends who love reading as much as I do!

found them as i was looking for commentary on ToB, and have continued downloading random episodes. Tho it looks like there are drinks to go along with it? Even more fabulous ;)

It's great for book lovers & writers!

I really enjoy spending time with these guys. It’s like hanging out with friends and talking about books, which is not something I get enough of in my regular life. I find that I read more when I have a good book podcast to listen to. Christopher and Drew point me in the direction of good books and remind me of novels that have gotten lost in my TBR stack. Thanks, guys!

SMDB is also a great source of book recommendations — I’ve read ~10 books recommended by Christopher, Drew, or their guests, and I haven’t been disappointed once.

I just recently discovered this podcast and I have enjoyed it tremendously. The discussions with authors and about books are so informative and the appreciation of books is very apparent.

This podcast makes my reading life better, and I couldn’t love it more.

I’m in love with this podcast. Honestly I should probably stop listening because I can’t afford to buy anymore books, but I love the conversations so much and everything they have recommended has been amazing.

A+

I'm so glad I found this podcast. I already have a list of books I need to read. I love hearing the authors talk about their books and the relaxed way the interviews go. I also love that there's a new drink mix every episode, because it adds to the fun. I love that there are different segments and that the transitions break up the sections. It's really fun to listen to.

I discovered SMDB thanks to the Tournament of Books, and I’ve been an avid listener for a few years. They have introduced me to so many great books and reminded me of old favorites.

This is my absolutely favorite book pod. I listen to each one right away and am making my way through the backlist. Two funny, insightful guys take about two books with an author without any spoilers. The authors they get are so diverse and high quality. They’ve turned me onto so many books. If you like books at all, you need this pod!

Truly the best of all the book podcasts. It’s nice to hear authors talk about their reading lives in addition to their own books. I’ve read so many of the books these dudes talk about and have yet to be disappointed.

Cool podcast with cocktails and book discussions. Some particularly great episodes - both Stephanie Danler episodes, both Hannah Pittard episodes, and the Alexander Chee episode.

Fun podcast with cocktails, author interviews and discussions of a book the guest author chooses. Great book recommendations, too!

Thank you, Chris and Drew, for always keeping it lighthearted while still being informative. An entertaining show who's hosts don't take themselves too seriously is a wonderful addition to anyone's podcast lineup. Keep it coming!