welcome to another (video!!) instalment of the autumn diaries. in this episode we chat MORE books in the form of our ultimate tbr lists. this covers the genres fantasy, dark academia, gothic, mystery & above all lots of magic and witches...
books mentioned:
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping — Sangu Mandanna
Blood Over Bright Haven — M.L.Wang
The Bewitching — Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Fangs — Sarah Andersen (graphic novel)
The Academy — Elin Hilderbrand
Assistant to the Villain — Hannah Nicole Maehrer
One Dark Window — Rachel Gillig
The Exorcism of Faeries — J.L. Vampa
Immortal Consequences — I.V. Marie
Arcana Academy — Elise Kova
A Natural History of Dragons — Marie Brennan
A Dark and Secret Magic — Wallis Kinney
If It Makes You Happy — Julie Olivia
In the Company of Witches — Auralee Wallace
Katabasis — R.F. Kuang
Cackle — Rachel Harrison
Rewitched — Lucy Jane Wood
Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match — Sally Thorne
The Girl in White — Lindsey Currie
Dracula — Bram Stoker
My Roommate is a Vampire — Jenna Levine
Not Quite Dead Yet — Holly Jackson
If We Were Villains — M.L. Rio
Practical Magic — Alice Hoffman
The Once and Future Witches — Alix E. Harrow
Frankenstein — Mary Shelley
The Unmaking of June Farrow — Adrienne Young
Checking Out Crime — Laurie Cass
A River Enchanted — Rebecca Ross
the time has come for our autumn book recommendations… aka BOOKS YOU MUST READ THIS SEASON 🍂📚 we are honestly so jealous of anyone picking these up for the first time because the vibes are perfecttt! think cosy fantasies that feel like a warm hug, witchy reads perfect for spooky nights, dark academia staples, plus some romance, & gothic classics!
basically, if you’ve been wondering what to add to your tbr this season, we’ve done the work for you. light a candle, grab a hot drink, and prepare your goodreads because the list is loooong!!
here’s everything we recommended in the episode:
Cosy Fantasy
Fantasy
Witchy Vibes
Dark Academia
Mystery
Romance
Classics/Gothic
Other
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! Thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! Check it out here.
! for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
THIS IS NOT A DRILL, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN AKA OUR FAVOURITE TIME AKA AUTUMN! AKA AUTUMN DIARIES TIME!! (sorry not sorry for the dramatic capitalisation but it simply had to be done to transmit our excitement). in this first episode we do a cosy catch up of our lives, share some of our recent (bookish) recommendations, as well as answer some of your questions on how to romanticise your life and actually enjoy autumn even though you're a stressed out uni student or are scared of the days (& your mood) getting darker...
grab a hot drink, get cosy & enjoyyy this first instalment auf our autumnal podcast series. 🍂
link to autumn playlist mentioned here!
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ Thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! Check it out here! for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
this week’s episode feels like a love letter to girlhood! we chat about the collective bonding over The Summer I Turned Pretty, the nostalgic pull of The Vampire Diaries, Taylor Swift’s new podcast interview, and the way these moments make us lean into nostalgia and community!
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ Thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! Check it out here! for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
this episode does what it says in the tin (aka the title) because we both had MANY realisations this week - from realising our negative bias, wanting to be less self-centered, finding our purpose, setting unrealistic expectations to perfectionism - we chat about it all.
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here or here (leo's booktube) ! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us here - current book of the month is 'wild dark shore' by charlotte mcconaghy).
if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
this episode is genuinely a girly catch up call where we yap about how we are feeling, how we want to try make the most out of the rest of summer (but also find ways to live slowly - which is something we CAN'T WAIT to have in autumn). we also talk about our recent reads, morning habits & our recent thoughts on alcohol/being sober.
we also end this by giving advice to one of you lovely listeners <3
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ Thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! Check it out here! for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
in this episode (inspired by the amazing goes without saying episode) we break down our self criticism & self sabotage tendencies & HOW WE'RE GONNA TURN THAT SHIZZLE AROUND!!!
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us here.
if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
welcome to the digital detox diary entry #3... 1 month without social media to test my brain & see what happens ... JOIN ME!
in this ep we do a lil check-in on how i've been feeling now that we're THREE weeks into this challenge - the highs AND the lows (coz trust me there've been some...). we're talking overthinking, what happens when you actually have time to sit with your feelings, new missions and some recs!
also... my first yt video is up eeeek. you can find it here.
daily journal prompts:
recs:
the crimson moth/heartless hunter duology by kristen ciccarelli
the book of azrael by amber v. nicole
@faithsreadingthings (cosy booktube channel)
if you want to join the challenge or just want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us here.
SPOILER ALERT FOR THE FIRST 2X EPS OF TSIP SEASON 3!! PROCEED WITH CAUTION AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! in this cosy catch up, ur basically on facetime with us as we break down the latest pop culture gossip, our thoughts & potentially controversial opinions...
let us know your thoughts on everything we discussed!!
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us here - current book of the month is 'atmosphere' by taylor jenkins reid).
if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
logo credit: @french75studio
digital detox ep 2! in this episode we catch up on how the first days of this 'experiment' have gone & ponder whether us as human beings are missing friction in our lives? aka have our lives become TOO convenient and streamlined, and is that actually ruining things for us? alsoo we talk a walk down memory lane & read my (leo's) old journal entries from 2020 (!) and 2023 and discuss what i actually want to learn from these past versions of me...
if you're joining me so we can hold each other accountable, LET ME KNOW HOW IT'S GOING!! reply in the comments OR our email is: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com ☕
also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us here. our current book of the month is 'atmosphere' by taylor jenkins reid).
we are BACK with the digital detox diaries - where i (leo) try to forcefully regain my grip on reality by logging out of the doomscrolling pits of hell that are instagram and tiktok ...
this ep is an honest (albeit chaotic & naturally filled with the dramatics you already know me for) update on how i'm feeling, why i wanted to do this social media 'detox' in the first place, the concept of 'we are what we consume', creating > consuming, mindful media consumption & more.
if you want to join me so we can hold each other accountable, LET ME KNOW!!! likewise let us know if you have any episode topic ideas you'd like us to deep dive on.
reply in the comments OR our email is: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com ☕
also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us here - current book of the month is 'atmosphere' by taylor jenkins reid).
sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/screen-time/202502/doomscrolling-why-cant-we-stop
https://medium.com/@kerberj/do-television-characters-influence-our-identity-358c30f7b768
https://www.psychetal.com/post/the-influence-movies-have-on-us
the long awaited soft girl summer episode is finally here.. self love, comparison, and growing into yourself without apology. press play for a gentle reminder that you're enough ❤️
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ Thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! Check it out here! for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
this week (in the final part of our external validation series), we continue to deep dive into a topic that’s come up again and again across our episodes : seeking external validation.
check out part 1 first, where we reflect on our own relationships with validation, how it’s shaped our childhoods, friendships, and identities. we also explore the psychology behind validation seeking.
in part 2, we get into the emotional cost of it all and actually share some tips into how to stop seeking it!
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ Thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! Check it out here! for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
this week (part 1 of our external validation series), we’re deep diving into a topic that’s come up again and again across our episodes : seeking external validation. Inspired by a beautiful piece of writing that perfectly captured our feelings (we read it at the start of the episode!), we reflect on our own relationships with validation, how it’s shaped our childhoods, friendships, and identities. from the desire to be liked in school, to the performative nature of social media, to internalising rejection from people we don’t even admire… we’re unpacking it all. we also explore the psychology behind validation seeking. it’s a vulnerable one, and we hope it makes you feel a little more understood 🤍
part 2 will be out next week where we get into the emotional cost of it all as well as our little toolkit on how to stop seeking it!
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ Thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! Check it out here! for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
Sources:
https://ellinasukh.substack.com/p/the-need-to-be-seen?r=trybr&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true
https://oizystunmise.substack.com/p/stop-craving-validation-from-people?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web (took a lot of the actual quotes from here, loved this writing)
https://pachdeng.substack.com/p/seeking-external-validation-leads
this week’s episode is a whirlwind. leo takes us behind the scenes of her surreal work trip to the monaco grand prix — think superyachts, free drinks from restaurant owners, awkward encounters with billionaires, unexpected dance battles with martin garrix, and even spotting jeff bezos on her boat. yes, really.
but in true matcha diaries fashion, we balance this with reflection — from the absurdity of wealth culture to craving a quiet moment with a book on a bench. we also chat about high school reunions, summer nostalgia, the picture of dorian gray, and cara’s wholesome time back home in Jordan. it’s a chaotic, juicy, and very real episode!
link to tuscany airbnb's website is here & to their instagram here! (gooo & check them out, you won't regret it hihi)
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ Thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! Check it out here! for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
welcome back to your favourite cozy corner of the internet where we chat about life, books, love, and everything in between. in this week’s episode, we’re finally sharing our 2025 summer tbr with you!
we’re talking about all the books we’re manifesting into our summer reading piles, plus some of our absolute faves from last summer that deserve a spot on your list too. from escapist romances and hot literary fiction to reflective reads - this is your official guide to the books we’ll be reading by the pool, on the plane, or curled up with an iced matcha on the sofa.
we also share some honest opinions (as always), including the books that didn’t quite hit and the ones that had us actuallyscreaming. expect bookish chaos, summer vibes, and some questionable language counts (looking at you, colleen hoover).
as always, we’d love to know: what’s on your summer tbr? let us know in the comments or drop us a message on instagram 💌
Books We Want to Read This Summer:
Books We Loved Last Summer (2024 & 2023):
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕
Thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! Check it out here!
for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
this week on the podcast, I’m joined by a very special guest — my twin sister Yara 🤍
from afternoon chats over tea to honest reflections on heartbreak, burnout, and building a life that feels like yours — this episode is all about what it means to live with intention.
we talk about:
this episode is soft, silly, vulnerable, and grounding — a little reminder that you’re allowed to take your time, change your mind, and choose yourself every step of the way. 💌
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕
thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! Check it out here!
for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
this week’s episode is a very special one — i’m (leo) joined by my high school bestie Alexa for a nostalgic and pretty vulnerable conversation about who we used to be, who we’ve become & what we’d tell our younger selves.
from crying over boys to learning how to stop craving male validation, from incessantly comparing ourselves to finding self-worth in our twenties — this one’s for the girls who like us are still healing (from) their teenage selves.
so grab a drink, get cosy & join us for a little trip down memory lane. 💌
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕
Thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! check it out here!
for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
we thought it was about time we did a truly honest check-in with you guys & ourselves about our relationships with arguably THE most important person in our lives: OURSELVES. we talk about our current thoughts on body image, our relationship to food (TW! please don't listen if you think thiscould trigger you in any way <3) & who we are to our core.
we talk through the following prompts & would loveeee if you guys take the time to think about (or maybe even journal) what your own answers to these questions would be.
as always, we really hope you enjoy the episode andare sending you so sooo much love!!
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us here - current book of the month is 'the end of loneliness' by benedict wells).
if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
in this episode, we're sharing some recent 'embarrassing' (yet empowering) stories! leo talks the time she accidentally booked herself into an advanced ballet class, even though she’s a beginner—and how she powered through the entire class anyway. It’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone, embracing the awkwardness, and laughing at yourself in the process. .
then cara opens up about how she struggled to complete a 5k, took a moment to cry, but reminded herself that it’s okay to have both high and low running days.
It's a cozy chat about embracing the uncomfortable, allowing ourselves to feel the lows, and pushing through with grace.
to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on instagram, tiktok or subscribe to us on youtube here! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us here - current book of the month is 'the end of loneliness' by benedict wells).
if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: thematchadiariespod@gmail.com
