Why subscribe?

In The Novel Tea newsletter, you’ll find not only book reviews, but also discussions of critical theory, connections to other media such as television and podcasts, and in-depth research on themes that emerge in the world.

There are many newsletters and blogs out there that provide book summaries and book lists, but very few that deeply engage with individual texts and connect the themes found in literature to our everyday lives. The Novel Tea Newsletter does exactly that.

By subscribing, you can expect at least two newsletters each month delivered straight to your inbox. These will also include links to easily access our podcast, The Novel Tea, behind-the-scenes content, and access to our publication archives. We hope you enjoy what we have to share, and thank you for your support!

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Meet your Hosts

Neha is an architect by training, book lover by passion. Her creative skills and design training translate into the way she thinks about imagined worlds in fiction, exploring different ideas and possibilities without structural constraints. Her reading interests include fantasy, sci-fi, YA, and contemporary fiction.

Shruti is a self-proclaimed New Yorker and a surgical resident physician who has loved reading since she was a child. With experience in narrative medicine, bioethics, and palliative care, she is deeply interested in stories of shared humanity. Her love of reading helps her connect with patients from all walks of life, which in turn informs how she interprets these stories. Her favorite genres are literary fiction, mysteries, and historical fiction.

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The Novel Tea Podcast

Shruti and Neha have been best friends since they met in middle school in India, having moved there from the Pacific Northwest. Reading and talking about books have always been a big part of their relationship, but as they grew older, they realized that most of the books they had been exposed to were prescribed by the Western canon. So they decided to start a podcast dedicated to reading more broadly, more diversely, and more deeply.

Enter: The Novel Tea Podcast, where your favorite English class meets your neighborhood book club. We go beyond the traditional classics to explore books from diverse authors and backgrounds. In each episode, we discuss one book in detail, analyzing themes, characters, plot, and writing styles, as we attempt to determine: will it stand the test of time?

You can follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen!

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Book reviews, thematic literary analysis, and cultural commentary to help you thoughtfully engage with the world.

People

One half of The Novel Tea. I am an architect by day, and an avid reader by night! My favorite genre is fantasy, but I would honestly read anything and enjoy it. Just take me away from reality!
Shruti is a surgical resident physician based in New York City. She is passionate about storytelling and narratives of shared humanity. She writes Brief Op Notes and The Novel Tea Newsletter.