I'm Natalie Moore. I fell in love with soap operas when I was just five years old, and I still

watch them. Their television's longest scripted series and have zero reruns. Now let me tell you,

soap operas aren't just some silly art form. They are significant. In this season of making,

Stories Without End from WBEZ Chicago. Join me as I share how the genre

began, their social impact, and why these stories endure. Listen, wherever you get your podcast.

From WBEZ Chicago, this is Nerdad. I'm Greta Johnson, and this week we are leaning in to summer goodness.

Solstice is right around the corner, and whether you're living it up at the beach or you worked 40 hours this week like me, odds are you're still managing to squeeze in some warm weather whimsy.

Coming up, WXPN's Kristen Curtis is going to share some of her favorite songs of the

season. But first, summer books. You knew it was coming. Yes, there is a new Taylor Jenkins

read novel out. Yes, Jasmine Guillory's newest rom-com will be here in no time. And yes,

I will keep telling you to read Great Circle because it is a really great book,

but there is so much more stuff out there. And here to yell about great books with me is Liberty

Hardy. She's a senior contributing editor for Book Riot and host of the All the Books podcast.

She is her own hype person. She reads hundreds of books a year and she's here to tell us about

some of her faves.

Liberty, hey.

Hello, I am waving my arms in my office.

You just have to trust me.

I really am.

I got Muppet arms going on.

I believe you.

I'm so excited to talk about these books.

...