Kristen Barenthaler
Bio
Curious adventurer. Crazed reader. Librarian. Archery instructor. True crime addict.
Instagram: @kristenbarenthaler
Facebook: @kbarenthaler
Stories (370)
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In Cold Blood: Anatomy of a True Crime Classic. Content Warning.
The True Crime Reader: Truman Capote’s 'In Cold Blood' Welcome to The True Crime Reader, the podcast where literature meets real life—and the line between truth and narrative blurs. I’m your host, and today we’re journeying into the heart of rural 1950s America to examine Truman Capote’s genre-defining work, In Cold Blood. This episode, we’ll peel back the layers of a book that didn’t just recount a murder—it transformed journalism, challenged the ethics of true crime, and left a profound mark on how we tell stories about violence, psychology, and the American Dream.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in Criminal
Alphabet Soup & Snowflakes: My 2025 A–Z Reading List
Welcome back, booklovers, to The Chapter Café—where the cocoa is hot, the snow is falling, and every story feels like a warm blanket on a cold day. I’m Kristen, your host, and today’s episode is a special one. We’re curling up with a literary tradition I’ve come to adore: the A to Z reading challenge.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in BookClub
Christmas Crackers and Coming Home
Welcome back to The Chapter Café, where stories are always on the menu and comfort is served by the chapter. I’m your host, Kristen, and today we’re unwrapping a festive, emotionally rich holiday tale that’s as cozy as a wool blanket and as sparkly as a Christmas cracker. On today’s menu? I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss—a story about coming home, facing old wounds, and finding your place in the world, one snow-dusted step at a time.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in BookClub
Come As You Are & the Art of Starting Over
Welcome back to The Chapter Café, where stories are always on the menu and comfort is served by the chapter. I’m your host, Kristen, and today we’re unpacking a story about heartbreak, reinvention, and the unexpected ways we find our people. On today’s menu? Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler—a YA romance that’s equal parts sharp, swoony, and soul-searching.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in BookClub
Cursed Pages & Candlelight
Welcome, brave souls, to The Chapter Cafe—where stories steep like tea and mysteries simmer in the shadows. Tonight, under the flicker of candlelight and the watchful gaze of a harvest moon, we invite you to pull up a chair and sip from our Halloween Mystery Brew.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in BookClub
Feast & Folklore: Autumn Recipes with a Story
Welcome to The Chapter Café, where stories simmer, flavors mingle, and every book is served with a side of imagination. Today’s menu? Cookbooks—the kind that leave grease stains on the margins and breadcrumbs in the binding. You know the ones: well-loved, well-used, and maybe even a little chewed on by time (or a curious pet).
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in BookClub
Espresso Shots & Espionage: The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold
Welcome back to The Chapter Café, where stories are always on the menu and comfort is served by the chapter. I’m your host, Kristen, and today we’re trading in our cozy cardigans for leather jackets and encrypted burner phones. On today’s menu? The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold by Ally Carter—a second-chance spy romance that’s equal parts adrenaline and heart.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in BookClub
Lights Out & Love in the Dark
Welcome back to The Chapter Café, where stories are always on the menu and comfort is served by the chapter. I’m your host, Kristen, and tonight we’re dimming the lights, pouring something strong, and stepping into the shadows with a dark romance that’s as twisted as it is tender. On today’s menu? Lights Out by Navessa Allen—a story of trauma, obsession, and the strange, electric pull between two broken souls.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in BookClub
Once Upon a Heartbeat: Romance & Reimagined Fairy Tales
Welcome back to The Chapter Café, where stories steep like tea and imagination flows like espresso. Today, we're opening the pages of love and legend with an episode that blends romance and reimagined fairy tales. From glass slippers that don’t fit to enchanted forests with modern twists, we’re diving into tales where happily-ever-afters come with a dash of realism and a whole lot of heart.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in BookClub
Rewind to Us & the Magic of Second Chances
Welcome back to The Chapter Café, where stories are always on the menu and comfort is served by the chapter. I’m your host, Kristen, and today we’re rewinding the clock—literally and emotionally—with a story about love, regret, and the courage it takes to say what matters before it’s too late. On today’s menu? Rewind to Us by Molly Morris—a YA novel that blends magical realism with the raw, messy beauty of growing up.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in BookClub
Romance with a Twist (of the Knife)
Welcome to The Chapter Café, where every page is served with a drizzle of desire and a drop of blood. I’m your host, Kristen, and today we’re swirling roses and razor blades in a heady cocktail of passion and peril. Prepare to sip on secrets stained red and savor stolen glances that might end in a deadly twist.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in BookClub
The 2025 Bibliophile Advent Calendar Special
There’s a moment every December when the world finally exhales. For me, it usually happens right after I pull out my favorite winter mug and I take that first deep breath of the season. The lights glow a little softer. The books on my shelves seem to lean toward me, waiting. And I remember why winter reading feels like a ritual.
By Kristen Barenthalerabout a month ago in BookClub
