Book Gang

Connect with Hafeez Lakhani on Instagram or His Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Sundays with Writers - Laurie Frankel

Summer Wrapped: Behind the Scenes with the Book Gang Team Aug 14, 2026

Go behind the scenes with Amy Allen Clark and Symbol as they reveal the untold stories, challenges, and triumphs of producing this year’s Book Gang summer season.

This week, we’re opening the curtain on our very first Summer Wrapped: Behind the Scenes episode! Amy and Symbol sit down for a candid, honest conversation about how the Book Gang team built this year’s summer reading season that included eighteen incredible voices.

You’ll hear about the careful curation process for selecting each title (and guest!), the unexpected technical hurdles and logistics that go into every episode, and the real-life stories you never hear on-mic—from heartwarming guest moments to personal challenges and family curveballs. We also recap each of our summer author guests, highlighting what made their conversations special and our favorite listener feedback that brought us so much joy.

What’s Inside This Summer Wrapped Episode:

📚 Curating the Summer Season: Amy shares how the summer reading guide comes together, from screening dozens of advance copies and weighing reader feedback to mapping out a lineup that balances debuts, backlist gems, and under-the-radar voices. She discusses the existential question of whether summer guides are still needed, the realities of book content overwhelm, and how the team ultimately crafts a list that feels both meaningful and manageable for listeners.

📚 Behind-the-Scenes Minutiae That Might Surprise You: Amy and Symbol pull back the curtain on all the surprising details that made each of the eighteen summer episodes possible. They describe the reality of wrangling unpredictable author tech setups, coordinating with publicists and publishing teams (sometimes through a maze of emails), and building a signature pitch for each of their guests (which Amy practices in some unusual locations) that drives book sales for their featured authors. You’ll find out how her media training guides conversations through a warm, unscripted approach that helps every guest shine on their show day.

📚 A Guest-by-Guest Recap: The team goes through a detailed celebration of every summer guest, spotlighting what made each author and conversation special. Amy and Symbol highlight their most memorable moments, hilarious bloopers, emotional breakthroughs fostered through these stories, and the unique novels that shaped this year's Book Gang community. We indulge in the listener reactions, behind-the-scenes surprises, and favorite off-mic stories that were unforgettable for our team. You can experience an audio surprise Symbol made for Amy that has never been aired before.

BONUS BOOK LIST: Patrons will receive a printable featuring the next fifteen voices coming to Book Gang this fall—a sneak peek at the authors and books that will shape our upcoming season (COMING SOON). Join us behind the paywall for this exclusive preview and help keep independent podcasting alive!

Meet the Book Gang Team

Amy Allen Clark is the host of the Book Gang podcast and founder of MomAdvice.com. Symbol is Book Gang’s behind-the-scenes editor, sound designer, and show notes maestro, dedicated to making each episode shine. Together, they work to curate, produce, and share the best in bookish conversation. Thank you, patrons! You make our work here possible!

Mentioned in this episode:

SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779

SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice

SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry

Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah

Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise

Single Girls by John Searles

With Friends Like You by Amy Chozick

Today Show segment

Famous Men by Julie Buntin

The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman

Scandalous Women by Gill Paul

A Splintering by Dur e Aziz Amna

American Fever by Dur e Aziz Amna

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown

Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

Land by Maggie O’Farrell

Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker

The Sign for Home by Blair Fell

Harvesting Rosewater by Paria Hassouri

The Two Wills by Blair Fell

Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell

Kia’s Asian Booklist

Skin Contact by Elisa Faison

Book Lounge by Libby Podcast

Now That We Think About It podcast

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin

If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett

Living Single

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J Chung

Lady X by Molly Fader

The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader

Little Movements by Laura Morrow

Amy’s IG Summer stack book photo

The Seekers of Deer Creek by Thao Thai

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Christina Baker Kline - The Foursome podcast

The Half Life Takes Readers on a Steamy Awakening Abroad Aug 07, 2026

Author Rachel Beanland discusses The Half Life on Book Gang—a juicy Italian-set novel exploring early marriage and finding oneself in the 1970s.

I’m thrilled to welcome Rachel Beanland to Book Gang for an intimate conversation about her newest novel, The Half Life. Rachel brings her trademark honesty and warmth as she shares the personal stories and creative risks behind this lush Mediterranean tale. Together, we dive into her childhood memories, the challenges of writing from a single perspective, and the complex blend of history and self-discovery that makes this novel so unforgettable.

The Half Life follows Eileen, a young newlywed, who moves to the remote Italian island of La Maddalena in the 1970s after marrying a Navy officer. As Eileen adjusts to the insular world of military life abroad, she finds herself navigating cultural divides, the expectations of marriage, and an unexpected awakening. Against the lush Italian landscape and under the shadow of Cold War politics, Eileen’s journey becomes one of self-discovery and new identity in a place where the past and present collide.

In this week’s absorbing episode, we discuss:

📚 Writing from Personal History: Rachel shares how returning to La Maddalena, Italy, where she lived as a child, inspired the setting and emotional core of The Half Life. Her visit brought up powerful feelings, especially as she witnessed the American military presence and reflected on memories of her father.

📚 Point of View & Character Voice: For the first time, Rachel wrote a novel entirely from a single, first-person perspective. She discusses the unique challenges and rewards of embodying Eileen’s voice—a young woman navigating grief and self-discovery—and how her background influenced her approach to creating authentic, intimate narration.

📚 American Exceptionalism & Environmental Reckoning: Rachel and Amy dive into how The Half Life confronts the myth of American exceptionalism through the eyes of Eileen, a young military wife navigating the realities of living abroad. They discuss the hidden environmental costs of Cold War military bases, the erasure of American presence from the Sardinian landscape, and how these forces shape Eileen’s awakening to her own agency and the complex legacy she inherits.

BONUS BOOK LIST: Take 10 Unexpected Italian Escapes in your book stack this month. You can browse this list for free. Patrons receive a printable version and a bonus spoiler chat with Rachel as a thank you. us behind the paywall for a printable book list and a bonus spoiler episode with Rachel Beanland!

Meet Rachel Beanland

Rachel Beanland is the author of the novels, The House Is On Fire, Florence Adler Swims Forever, and The Half Life. Beanland attended the University of South Carolina and earned her MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has taught at the College of William & Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Richmond. Beanland lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her family. The Half Life is available on store shelves now.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK LIST: 10 Unexpected Italian Escapes (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK)

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland

Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams

The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland

A Crash Course in Gothic Fiction with Erin Crosby Eckstine

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Rachel Beanland on Instagram or Her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

The Best Debut Novels of 2023 podcast with Thao Thai

The Seekers of Deer Creek: When the Story Matters More Than the Hook Jul 31, 2026

Thao Thai returns to Book Gang with The Seekers of Deer Creek—a lush, moving novel about sisters, art, and the inherited secrets that bind and break families.

I’m delighted to welcome Thao Thai back to Book Gang as she takes us behind the scenes of The Seekers of Deer Creek. Thao’s work is immersive, atmospheric, and deeply tender, and her newest novel is a testament to the power of art and family history.

Today, we explore Thao’s writing process, the evolution from Banyan Moon to this new work, and her approach to language, research, and the changing landscape of literary fiction.

The Seekers of Deer Creek tells the story of two estranged sisters, Calla and Vivi, reunited by their father's passing and an inheritance that could reshape their futures. Their journey is sparked by a mysterious sketch and a journal entry, launching them into a search for family truth that spans Wisconsin, France, and Vietnam.

Thao unpacks generational secrets, Vietnamese artistic legacy, and the longing to be seen and understood—inviting us to revisit the stories we inherit and the ones we choose to live.

In this week’s fascinating episode, we discuss:

📚 The Writing Journey: Thao reveals how her creative process transformed from debut to sophomore novel—the struggles, surprises, and the freedom she found when she stopped chasing trends and let the story lead her. We talk about patience, perseverance, and learning to trust your instincts (and your editors) when the book wants to become something new.

📚 Art, Inheritance & Storytelling: Discover how emotion and ancestral secrets shape Thao’s fiction, the inspiration behind her art-infused storytelling, and why she believes every object and artifact in a novel must earn its place on the page. We also explore Vietnamese history, generational longing, and the power of art to connect us across time and place.

📚 Restoration & Sisterhood: Step into the delicate, invisible work of art conservation and the equally complex labor of repairing a sister bond. Thao shares why she resists easy villains, how she crafts flawed but deeply lovable characters, and what it means to find beauty in the light that relationship 'lace' lets through.

BONUS BOOK LIST: My Top Books of the Year (So Far) – I’m sharing the fifteen books that have wowed me after reading sixty-eight titles through June! Patrons receive a printable list and a sneak peek at two book club picks for our 2027 book club year. Join us behind the paywall for a printable book list and a bonus spoiler episode with Thao Thao!

Meet Thao Thai

Thao Thai is the author of Banyan Moon, the July 2023 Read with Jenna title, Barnes & Noble Discover Pick, and Book of the Month selection. Banyan Moon was also selected by booksellers as an IndieNext pick and longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. She was the recipient of the 2024 Ohio Arts Council’s Individual Excellence Award, and her work has been published in the Los Angeles Review of Books, WIRED, Elle, Lit Hub, and other publications. She lives in central Ohio with her husband and daughter. The Seekers of Deer Creek publishes August 4th.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK LIST: My Top Books of 2026 (So Far) Book List (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK)

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland

People Magazine: I Was Raised as an Only Child and Discovered I Had a Sister When I Was 22

The Seekers of Deer Creek by Thao Thai

Madonna’s Met outfit

Dorothea Tanning

Composition With Figures on a Terrace

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

Read with Jenna

Service95 Book Club (Dua’s Monthly Reads)

Adam & Evie’s Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen

Almost Life by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Claire Keegan

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Sweet Valley High

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary

Quyen Ngo

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Thao Thai on Instagram or Her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

If I Ruled the World Playlist

If I Ruled the World and the Wild Ride of 90s Magazine Life Jul 24, 2026

Amy DuBois Barnett draws on her editorial career for If I Ruled the World—a vibrant novel of magazine publishing, ambition, and reinvention in 1990s media.

I’m honored to warmly welcome Amy DuBois Barnett to Book Gang as she shares the story behind her debut novel, If I Ruled the World. Drawing on her groundbreaking career in magazine publishing, Amy brings us a vibrant, sometimes gritty, and always honest exploration of ambition, identity, and reinvention in 1990s print media.

Today we explore Amy’s decades-in-the-making fiction journey, what inspired her to finally tell this story, and how her editorial background influenced her process as a novelist.

If I Ruled the World follows Nikki, a thirty-something woman navigating the cutthroat world of late-90s print media after bravely reporting a powerful colleague’s misconduct. As she hustles to revive a struggling hip hop magazine, Nikki’s journey is marked by career chaos, personal missteps, and a search for her true voice amid shifting alliances and expectations.

With wit and candor, Amy unpacks the complexities of identity, representation, and legacy as she crafts a story that is both an insider’s look at magazine publishing and a deeply personal tale of transformation.

In this week’s fascinating episode, we discuss:

📚 The Writing Journey: Amy shares how she made history as the first Black woman to helm a major mainstream U.S. magazine and how decades in editorial shaped her fiction. We discuss why writing this debut novel in her fifties was the perfect moment, and celebrating that long-awaited “yes.”

📚 Representation & Identity: We talk about Amy’s trailblazing career and how this experience shaped her leadership, and what she borrowed from her own life to bring Nikki’s biggest triumphs and trials to life in this story.

📚 Building a Magazine: Step inside the electric world of 1990s magazine publishing—where iconic covers were gambles, backstage drama was real, and Nikki’s story was born from Amy’s lived experience. Amy shares a high-stakes celebrity cover story that blurred the lines between art and life, plus her perspective on the reckoning in hip hop she witnessed firsthand in this #metoo moment.

FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 13 Books About Magazines to Light Up Your Analog Heart— This curated list dives into the page-turning, messy, and fascinating world of magazines, both real and fictional. Patrons will receive a printable book list and an exclusive spoiler-filled episode with Amy DuBois Barnett!

Meet Amy DuBois Barnett

Amy DuBois Barnett is an award-winning media executive and author who earned national acclaim as editor in chief of Honey, Ebony, and Teen People—where she made history as the first Black woman to helm a major mainstream U.S. magazine—and as deputy editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar. She has held senior leadership roles at Paramount, Hearst, Disney, Time Inc., and several independently owned brands. Barnett has a BA from Brown University and an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. She resides in Los Angeles. If I Ruled the World is her debut novel and is available on store shelves now.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK LIST: 13 Books About Magazines to Light Up Your Analog Heart (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK)

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung

Inside the Creation of Daughters of Shandong with Eve J. Chung (Book Gang Podcast)

If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy DuBois Barnett on Instagram or Her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Margo’s Got Money Troubles

With Friends Like You Is This Year’s Must-Read Thriller Jul 17, 2026

Amy Chozick discusses her debut, With Friends Like You—a twisty thriller set in New York that explores friendship, motherhood, and reinvention.

Editor’s Note: Today’s episode is marked as explicit.

We’re kicking off a truly special Book Gang episode with Amy Chozick, who brings both warmth and wit to the conversation around her fiction debut thriller, With Friends Like You. This intimate story is set in New York City’s hidden corners—a story of friendship, motherhood, and the reinvention that comes after everything changes.

Today we explore Amy’s transition from political reporting to penning a propulsive, confessional thriller about the high-wire act of modern motherhood and the secrets that shape our closest friendships.

In With Friends Like You, Emily is still reeling from a harrowing birth experience and struggling to find solid ground as a new mother in Manhattan. Missing the woman she was before, she is drawn into a search for her enigmatic former roommate, Daisy. When Daisy reappears with plans for an exclusive wellness center, old wounds are reopened, and the cracks in their friendship threaten to unravel Emily’s fragile world. Together, they create a space for New York moms—complete with IV vitamin infusions, nap rooms, and communal childcare—as they navigate secrets, betrayals, and the longing for connection.

With raw honesty and a fiercely contemporary lens, Amy unpacks her real-life inspiration, the transition from journalism to fiction, and the emotional terrain of motherhood, friendship, and ambition.

In this juicy conversation, we discuss:

📚 The Writing Journey: Amy shares how the Hollywood Writers Strike became an unusual catalyst for finding the time and headspace to write fiction. We discuss the questions that drove her from political reporting to fiction, the early premise, her path from outline to final draft, and what it’s like to land her first fiction book deal.

📚 Reporting as Inspiration: Amy discloses how many of her journalistic pieces ended up becoming important elements in her story, from the high-rise setting to reporting on Stormy Daniels, which gave her a firsthand look at secrets, power, and reinvention that now pulse through the novel.

📚 New Motherhood and Pelvic Floor Therapy: We delve into the realities of new motherhood and the absence of villages and third space for mothers, why pelvic floor therapy is a crucially under-discussed part of postpartum recovery, and how Amy’s fiction sheds light on the emotional and physical challenges faced by new mothers—topics that deserve more open conversation in both literature and life.

Meet Amy Chozick

Amy Chozick is a bestselling author, screenwriter, and award-winning journalist who has covered the biggest stories in politics, business, and media for The New York Times. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Chasing Hillary, which was adapted into the HBO Max series The Girls on the Bus. Her writing has appeared in Vogue, Vanity Fair, and more. Amy is currently adapting With Friends Like You into a major motion picture with Fifth Season and Academy Award-winning producer Brad Weston. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK LIST: My Top Books of 2026 (So Far) Book List (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK)

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung

Inside the Creation of Daughters of Shandong with Eve J. Chung (Book Gang Podcast)

With Friends Like You by Amy Chozick

This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Mosley

David Carr

Chasing Hillary by Amy Chozick

The Girls on the Bus

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

Towers of Secrecy

Rosemary’s Baby

Somewhere

The Big, Controversial Business of The Wing, Explained

Panera Sips Club

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Pagebound

How the Pagebound App Reinvents Social Reading (Podcast)

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy Chozick on Instagram or Her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Inside the Creation of Daughters of Shandong with Eve J. Chung (Book Gang Podcast)

Lady X is the 1970s Vigilante Story You Need Jul 10, 2026

Molly Fader joins us to discuss Lady X, her soapy and subversive 1970s historical novel blending female-driven mystery, revenge, and legacy.

This week on Book Gang, I’m thrilled to welcome returning guest Molly Fader, an acclaimed voice in historical fiction and romance, for a deep-dive conversation about her latest soapy novel, Lady X. It blends the revenge vibes of The Change with the emotional punch of Husbands & Lovers.

Readers meet Margot, whose husband’s humiliating scandal sends her back to her childhood home just as her mother’s memory fades. An attic discovery—a photo linking her mother to the infamous 1970s vigilante group Lady X—launches Margot and her daughter into a cross-generational mystery that’s as much about rage and legacy as it is about revenge.

With wicked graffiti, oodles of secrets, and a freshly fierce examination of what women inherit when they stop apologizing, we unbox Molly’s real-life inspiration, reading life, and the demands of a mixed-media reading experience.

In this thought-provoking conversation, we discuss:

📚 Inspiration & Crafting Mythic Narratives: Molly discusses the mythic question at the heart of Lady X: What if the woman your family dismissed was once the most feared vigilante in New York? She shares how the story’s seeds were planted, the journey from idea to page, and the creative decisions behind her use of mixed media—such as newspaper clippings—to build a larger-than-life legend.

📚 Why the 1970s Was the Perfect Era: Molly reflects on the research behind her 1970s timeline, the echoes of contemporary issues, and the need for solidarity when systems fail to protect women. We gossip about what other books have gotten right or wrong about capturing this era, and the current publishing trends exploring it.

📚 Revenge, Righteous Anger, and Nuance: We explore how Lady X balances the satisfaction of revenge fiction with the nuanced portrayal of both women and men, the real-life heroes who inspired the story, and the conversations Molly hopes book clubs will have about the ongoing fight for women’s voices.

BONUS BOOK LIST: 12 “Good For Her” Books- Admittedly, this is a subgenre of my own creation, as we celebrate stories where women unapologetically take up space, seize their power, and, when necessary, deliver a well-deserved comeuppance. A variety pack of fun is available to browse for free today. Patrons will receive a printable book list and a bonus spoiler conversation with Molly today.

Meet Molly Fader

Molly Fader is the author of The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets, The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season and The Sunshine Girls. The Sunshine Girls is one of Library Reads and Amazon Editor's Ten Best Books of December. Under the name Molly O'Keefe she is the award-winning and USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. Lady X hits store shelves on July 14th and is available to pre-order now.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK LIST: 12 “Good For Her” Books- Flip some tables with me through these stories that center female revenge, joy, and autonomy in one delicious stack (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK)

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung

The Change by Kirsten Miller

Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams

Lady X by Molly Fader

The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader

The Magic of Old Hollywood Books with Molly Fader (Book Gang Podcast)

Day Drinking with Authors

Joshilyn Jackson, Missing Sisters & The Meadowlyn

Day Drinking with Joshilyn Jackson

Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson

Vigilante Shit

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawn Walton

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Helen Laser

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Bad Sisters by Rebecca Chance

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

The Seekers of Deer Creek by Thao Thai

One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

Inside One’s Company: Obsession, Isolation and Talking with Ashley Hutson (Podcast)

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

The Women by Kristin Hannah

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland

A Hymn to Life by Giséle Pelicot

AOC

Tarana Burke

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Molly Fader on Instagram or Her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

July Book Club: Daughters of Shandong Jul 03, 2026

Eve J. Chung joins our July Book Club to discuss Daughters of Shandong, a gripping historical novel of survival, resilience, and family during wartime China.

This week on Book Gang, Eve J. Chung—acclaimed human rights lawyer, debut novelist, and storyteller inspired by her family's extraordinary past—joins us for a riveting conversation about her powerful historical novel, Daughters of Shandong. Eve brings a deep personal history to the page, exploring the cost of survival during China's 1948 Communist Revolution.

In this episode, we’ll talk about turning family history into fiction, the ethical challenges of writing about trauma, and how Eve researched and structured a sweeping historical novel that moves with the urgency of a thriller. Eve reveals how her experience as a human rights lawyer challenged her writing process, the unique struggles of portraying women who both resist and uphold patriarchy, and the responsibility of illuminating lesser-known history for the next generation of readers.

In this thought-provoking conversation, we discuss:

📚 Transforming Family History Into Fiction: Eve shares the moment her grandmother’s story took hold of her imagination, how she balanced fact and invention, and the research process that brought 1948 China to life. She discusses the challenges and responsibilities of fictionalizing family trauma and how she honored her relatives’ experiences while protecting their privacy.

📚 Writing Women, Power, and Patriarchy: Eve explores her approach to portraying women who both reinforce and resist patriarchal systems, including complex characters like Hai’s grandmother. She explains the importance of showing both oppression and agency within one household, and how her background in human rights law shaped her understanding of these dynamics.

📚 Illuminating Hidden History: Eve discusses the little-known historical events that inspired Daughters of Shandong, her strategies for bringing lesser-documented moments to life, and the balance between emotional intensity and reader accessibility—especially in the book’s most harrowing scenes.

📚 FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: To celebrate Eve's book, I have created a companion book list with a rather unique subgenre that I love: 21 Books About Walks. I have gathered books where the journey on foot is the story's engine, including my all-time favorites and a few new releases I can't wait to read. You can browse the full list for free on Patreon! Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists, five hidden gem titles, and a bonus spoiler episode with Eve.

Meet Eve J. Chung

Eve J. Chung is a Taiwanese American lawyer and women’s human rights specialist. She has worked on a range of issues, including torture, sexual violence, contemporary forms of slavery, and discriminatory legislation. Her writing is inspired by social justice movements and the continued struggle for equality and fundamental freedoms worldwide. She currently lives in New York with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Daughters of Shandong is her debut novel and is available on store shelves now.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK LIST:: 21 Incredible Books About Walks- Take a long walk through fiction and nonfiction today! (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK)

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779

SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung

The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung

Daughters of Shandong with Eve Chung on Reflecting History

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Eve J. Chung on Instagram or Her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Skin Contact: Crafting an Interconnected Story Structure with Elisa Faison Jun 19, 2026

Elisa Faison joins Book Gang to discuss Skin Contact, her debut exploring the impact of an open marriage on a couple and their circle.

This week on Book Gang, Elisa Faison—acclaimed short story writer, debut novelist, and someone living openly in a nontraditional marriage—joins us for an unflinching conversation about her novel, Skin Contact. Elisa brings rare firsthand insight to the page, drawing from her own experience to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about open marriage that have long been absent in our fiction stacks.

In this episode, we’ll talk about writing from the inside of creative work and what it means to craft intimacy and connection in this refreshing story that hits all the romance story beats. Elisa reveals how she built the intricate structure of Skin Contact, her approach to nontraditional relationships on the page, and the craft of weaving multiple storylines into a resonant whole.

In this rich conversation, we discuss:

📚 The Writing Journey & Literary Beginnings: Elisa shares her roots as a bookseller and editor, the winding path from her initial idea for Skin Contact to securing her agent and book deal, and what surprised her most about the debut journey. She reflects on outlining, the evolution of the novel’s interconnected structure, and the pivotal moments that shaped the sale of her book, including the role book scouts play in her international sales.

📚 Love, Marriage, and Literary Complexity: Elisa discusses nontraditional relationship structures, including her own experience in an open marriage and what many stories get wrong about these dynamics. She shares the craft of writing intimacy and connection, the delicate dance between genre expectations and literary ambitions, and her perspective on how literature can challenge assumptions about love and commitment.

📚 Story Structure & Creative Identity: We dive deep into Frances’s job as a ghostwriter—how invisibility, credit, and creative ownership shape her story—and what drew Elisa to this lens. Elisa discusses the challenge of writing unresolved grief and how her own experiences informed Frances’s emotional journey.

📚 FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 17 Literary Love Stories That Linger—Discover 17 unforgettable stories that explore connection and longing, curated as the perfect companion to Skin Contact in this week’s book list. Patrons receive a printable book list, five bonus book ideas, and a bonus spoiler chat with Elisa in their inbox today.

Meet Elisa Faison

Elisa Faison is a writer and freelance editor living in Carrboro, North Carolina with her partner and two-year-old twins. She has published stories in The Missouri Review, Electric Literature, Smokelong Quarterly, and more. Her story “Motherlove” was the recipient of the 2024 Peden Prize, awarded by The Missouri Review and judged by Rachel Yoder. Her story “Group Sex” was the third most-read story of 2023 in Electric Literature. Formerly, Elisa worked as a bookseller at Flyleaf Books and as the book reviews editor at The Carolina Quarterly. She holds a PhD in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Skin Contact, this week’s featured selection, arrives June 23rd from Cardinal Press.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK LIST: 17 Literary Love Stories That Linger (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK)

NEW: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Skin Contact by Elisa Faison

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason

Thirst Trap by Gráinne O’Hare

Moderation by Elaine Castillo

Love is an Algorithm by Laura Brooke Robson

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Vladimir by Julia May Jonas

Vladimir

Acts of Service by Lillian Fishman

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

The Bright Years with Sarah Damoff (Podcast Interview)

The Burning Side with Sarah Damoff (Podcast Interview)

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje

Slanting Towards the Sea with Lidija Hilje(Podcast Interview)

Fates & Furies by Lauren Groff

The Best Plus Size Romance Characters to Love with Julia Murphy & Sierra Simone (Podcast Interview)

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Elisa Faison on Instagram or Her Website

Books with Good Plot Twists That Will Make Your Jaw Drop

Next of Kin: Mastering Tension in Legal Thrillers with Kia Abdullah Jun 12, 2026

Kia Abdullah joins Book Gang to discuss Next of Kin, her gripping backlist thriller about sisterhood laced with a high-stakes courtroom drama you won’t forget.

This week on Book Gang, we’re joined by Kia Abdullah, award-winning novelist and founder of Asian Booklist, for a deeply engaging conversation about her acclaimed thriller Next of Kin. We’ll dig into Kia’s unique journey from a career in tech to her bold work as a full-time author, and explore how her advocacy is changing the landscape for British-Asian writers in publishing.

Kia share more behind the art of writing high-stakes suspense, the impact of BookTok on the thriller genre, and the real-life inspirations behind Next of Kin’s unforgettable courtroom drama. Discover the secrets to building authentic tension, crafting twisty plots, and what she hopes readers will take away from her exploration of sisterhood, responsibility, and the complexities of motherhood.

In this informative conversation, we discuss:

📚 The Writing Journey & Bold Storytelling: From a background in computer science and tech to full-time novelist, Kia shares what gave her the courage to pursue writing and how she built a career tackling controversial themes. Her reflections on confidence, resilience, and the impact of BookTok on her work offer deep insight into her evolution as a thriller writer.

📚 Crafting High-Stakes Suspense (Spoiler-Free): Kia discusses how she uses backstory, emotional stakes, and authentic courtroom drama to build suspense in Next of Kin. From the novel’s powerful opening to its exploration of sisterhood, motherhood, and responsibility, she shares her approach to writing tension-filled, thought-provoking crime fiction.

📚 Amplifying British-Asian Voices: Kia Abdullah founded Asian Booklist to spotlight British-Asian authors who are often underrepresented in publishing. Through this initiative, she’s opening doors for new and established writers, creating a much-needed space for authentic stories and diverse perspectives to reach wider audiences.

📚 BONUS FREE WEEKLY BOOK LIST: 16 Legal Thriller Books to Read Now

Discover 16 Books 16 Legal Thrillers to add to your book stack.Prepare for high-stakes courtroom drama, fascinating true crime, and the kind of page-turning suspense that keeps you up way past your bedtime. Patrons receive a printable book list, five bonus book ideas, and a bonus spoiler chat with Kia in their inbox today.

Meet Kia Abdullah

Kia Abdullah is an author and journalist from London. Her novels include Take It Back (a Guardian and Telegraph thriller of the year), Truth Be Told (shortlisted for a Diverse Book Award), Next of Kin (longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award) and Those People Next Door (a Times Bestseller and Waterstones Thriller of the Month). Her new novel, What Happens in the Dark, is out now.

Kia has won a Diverse Book Award (2022) and a JB Priestley Award for Writers of Promise (2020). She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Times, and the BBC, among others.

Next of Kin, this week’s featured selection, is on store shelves now.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK LIST: 16 Legal Thriller Books to Read Now FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK)

NEW: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations)

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah

Take It Back by Kia Abdullah

Asian Booklist Substack

Brick Lane by Monica Ali

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

Zubs Uncovered

Truth Be Told by Kia Abdullah

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

Stealing Hollywood by Alexandra Sokoloff

The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr

What Happens in the Dark by Kia Abdullah

The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas

Elizabeth Day

Royal Society of Literature

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Kia Abdullah on Instagram or Her Website

Pope John Paul II Becomes the First Pope to Visit Ireland

Saoirse Takes Readers On a Journey Through 1990s Ireland Jun 05, 2026

Travel to Ireland with Charleen Hurtubise to celebrate her US debut, Saoirse—a moving story of art, memory, and reinvention set on Donegal’s wild Atlantic coast.

Book Gang welcomes Charleen Hurtubise, novelist and artist, to discuss her sweeping and quietly powerful novel, Saoirse. Charleen draws on her transatlantic life, her creative work as an artist, and her deep ties to Ireland and Michigan to bring this immersive story to life.

Set in 1990s Donegal, this immersive novel follows Saoirse Byrne, an artist whose life is transformed when she unexpectedly wins the prestigious Margaret Dowling Art Prize. As fame threatens to uncover long-buried secrets from her Michigan past, Saoirse must navigate a world shaped by Ireland’s social and political change, Catholic influence, and her own search for freedom.

In this layered and moving conversation, we discuss:

📚 Transatlantic Inspirations & Setting: Discover how Charleen Hurtubise’s own transatlantic life—growing up in Michigan, and building a creative career in Ireland—informs the layered world of Saoirse, and why Donegal’s landscape and history were essential to her story of reinvention.

📚 The Art and Craft of Storytelling: Go behind the scenes of Charleen’s writing process, from the novel’s earliest inspirations in true stories of hidden identities to the painstaking assembly of Saoirse’s “literary jigsaw”—a narrative woven from memory, visual art, and the secrets of the past. Learn how her background as both an artist and a writer shaped the novel’s unique structure.

📚 1990s Ireland: Explore the complex realities of 1990s Ireland for women—where issues of freedom, social change, and Catholic influence collide—and how Charleen uses Saoirse’s journey, her art, and her relationships to examine what it truly means to find autonomy, belonging, and a sense of home.

📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST: 23 Books About the 1990s

Discover 23 Books About the 1990s with today’s NEW book list! From literary mysteries and coming-of-age gems to memoirs and multigenerational sagas, this collection celebrates the books that capture the decade’s energy, anxieties, and hopes. Browse for free, friends! Patrons will receive a printable book list and a bonus spoiler episode with Charleen.

Meet Charleen Hurtubise

Charleen Hurtubise is a novelist and artist. She is the author of The Polite Act of Drowning, published in Ireland and the UK in 2023. Saoirse is her US debut. She holds an M.Sc. from Trinity College Dublin and an MFA in creative writing from University College Dublin, where she has facilitated creative writing seminars. The sixth sister in a family of nine, she spent much of her childhood in Michigan, her early adult years in Boston, and has now lived half of her life in Ireland, which is home. Though she lives in Dublin with her Irish family, the pull of Donegal never leaves and continues to influence her drawings and writings, including Saoirse.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations)

NEW BOOK LIST: 23 Books About the 19990s to Read Right Now (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK)

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise

Joan Eardley

The Polite Act of Drowning by Charleen Hurtubise

Una Watters

Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan

Edna O’Brien

Book Club Kit for Saoirse

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Charleen Hurtubise on Instagram or Her Website

Join the June Book Club 6/25 at 8 PM ET (Woodworking)

The Sign for Home Brings the DeafBlind Experience to Life May 29, 2026

Blair Fell joins Book Gang to discuss The Sign for Home, exploring the DeafBlind experience and a moving journey of autonomy and connection in this backlist feature.

Book Gang welcomes Blair Fell, acclaimed playwright, television writer, essayist, and ASL interpreter, to discuss his heartfelt and eye-opening novel, The Sign for Home. Fell’s unique life experience—including decades as an ASL interpreter for the Deaf and DeafBlind communities—shapes this deeply immersive story.

Longlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, The Sign for Home is a funny, moving, and transformative read that will leave you curious and inspired. I’m thrilled to celebrate this unforgettable debut as part of this year’s Summer Reading Guide backlist feature and to honor the community it serves. Don’t miss how Blair’s story left such an impression on a reader that they changed their will after reading it.

In this rich, humorous, and moving conversation, we discuss:

📚 Writing from Lived Experience: Fell shares what it means to craft a character as complex as Arlo, drawing from his personal career as an interpreter and from interviews with members of the DeafBlind community. Discover how authentic representation and the many years of drafting shaped every page of this coming-of-age story.

📚 The Ethics and Intimacy of Interpretation: Learn about the real-world team dynamics, physical demands, and ethical dilemmas facing ASL interpreters, and how these play out in Arlo’s story. Fell’s insider details—from tag-team interpreting to nuanced moments of tactile signing—bring the profession vividly to life.

📚 Crafting Voice and Language: Fell’s inventive narrative choices mirror the rhythms of ASL, with Arlo’s dialogue rendered in a unique cadence and interpreters’ speech in standard English. Explore how these stylistic decisions deepen readers’ immersion and illuminate the power of language.

Meet Blair Fell

Blair Fell writes and lives in New York City. His television work includes Queer as Folk and PBS’s California Connected. He’s written dozens of plays, including The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun, the award-winning Naked Will, and the cult miniseries Burning Habits. His essays have appeared in HuffPost, Out, Daily News (New York), and more. Fell is a two-time winner of the Doris Lippman Prize in Creative Writing, including for an early draft of the USA Today best-seller Disco Witches of Fire Island, a RuPaul book club pick and Lambda Award finalist. His debut novel, The Sign for Home, was longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and was selected as an Indie Next and Indie’s Introduce book by the American Booksellers Association. Blair has also worked as an actor, producer, ASL interpreter, and director. He lives in Jackson Heights, NY (Queens, New York City).

Mentioned in this episode:

Temporary Show Notes Location with Transcript (Apologies for the web issues today!)

NEW: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations)

NEW BOOK LIST: 18 Books With Disabled Characters to Read Now (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK)

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

The Sign For Home by Blair Fell

Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell

The Two Wills by Blair Fell

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

Delicious Foods by James Hannaham

True Biz by Sara Nović

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Blair Fell on Instagram or His Website

Unpacking Returns & Exchanges with Kayla Rae Whitaker May 22, 2026

Step inside a 1980s Kentucky department store as Kayla Rae Whitaker shares the family secrets and ambition behind her novel Returns & Exchanges.

Book Gang welcomes acclaimed author Kayla Rae Whitaker to discuss her much-anticipated new novel, Returns & Exchanges. Whitaker’s immersive storytelling and meticulous research bring the 1980s era and its consumer culture to vibrant life.

Set in Kentucky during the 1980s, this sweeping family drama follows Fred and Fran, a couple whose rags-to-riches ascent as department store owners brings both fortune and unexpected turmoil. As their business thrives, the family’s personal lives become increasingly complicated in this messy family saga. Through multiple perspectives and intricate subplots, the novel explores themes of identity, desire, mental health, and the complexities of the American dream in this page-turning story.

In this warm and insightful conversation, we discuss:

📚 Inside the Writing Process: It has been nine years since Whitaker’s breathtaking debut, The Animators. We discuss the pressure writers are under to write the next book and why she chose a different timeline for herself. Get insight into Whitaker’s approach to developing memorable characters, managing a sprawling narrative, and the questions she hopes book clubs and readers will debate after finishing Returns & Exchanges.

📚 Recreating 1980s Kentucky: Discover how Kayla Rae Whitaker’s meticulous research brings the sights, sounds, and family dynamics of a 1980s department store empire to life. We discuss how YouTube offered fun, immersive experiences that helped her connect the dots on stocking her store, allowing us to be immersed in the nostalgia of a well-stocked department store.

📚 Ambition, Identity & Queer Desire: Explore how the novel boldly handles themes of ambition, identity, and queer desire, as Whitaker discusses the risks she took to portray a family unraveling under the pressure of success and the true love story at the center of this moving novel. As an English teacher, she brings incredible examples of books she sees in conversation with her novel.

📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST: Books About Malls and Retail Stores

Discover 22 must-read books about malls and stores where retail locations take center stage in their stories. Patrons receive a printable checklist and a bonus spoiler chat with Kayla Rae Whitaker, streaming today.

Meet Kayla Whitaker

Kayla Rae Whitaker’s work has been published in The Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed, Electric Literature, and others. Her first novel, The Animators, was named a best book of 2017 by Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Kirkus, and BookPage. Her second novel, Returns and Exchanges, published by Random House, is on store shelves now. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and New York University. She writes and teaches in Queens, New York.

Mentioned in this episode:

Janelle Brown Interview (What Kind of Paradise)

NEW: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations)

NEW BOOK LIST: 22 Books About Malls and Stores to Read Now

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Join the May Book Club 4/30 at 8 PM ET (What Kind of Paradise)

Returns & Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker

The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

King Lear by William Shakespeare

Nixonland by Rick Perlstein

One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

Inside One’s Company: Obsession, Isolation, and Talking with Ashley Hutson

The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann

Carol

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Kayla Rae Whitaker on Instagram or Her Website

The Burning Side with Sarah Damoff May 15, 2026

Sarah Damoff joins Book Gang to discuss The Burning Side, a powerful family saga of marriage, memory, and the secrets that bind generations.

This week’s Book Gang conversation welcomes back acclaimed author Sarah Damoff, whose new novel, The Burning Side, delivers a gripping book club premise: a multigenerational family forced to rebuild after tragedy, now under one roof.

Opening with a house fire, readers witness the unraveling of the tangled lives of April and Leo, who must seek shelter with April’s parents—only to discover old wounds and new truths simmering beneath the surface of Deb and Billy’s life as they navigate carrying a heavy secret of their own.

Damoff draws on her experience as a social worker to craft heart-wrenching, compassionate scenes of family struggle, childhood trauma, and the hard choices that shape marriage and parenthood.

In this inviting and deeply immersive conversation, we discuss:

📚 Breaking through without a platform: Sarah shares the behind-the-scenes story of launching The Bright Years—without a major social media following, publishing pedigree, or built-in audience—and how her debut still became a national bestseller and Goodreads Choice finalist. We discuss what truly drives word-of-mouth success, the role of authentic storytelling, and what her experience reveals about connecting with readers in today’s book world.

📚 What happens after “happily ever after?”: Sarah explores the overlooked middle and later years of marriage—when routines settle, old dreams fade, and couples like Leo and April or Deb and Billy face new tensions and vulnerable reckonings. We discuss how these shifting roles and quiet heroics shape both relationships at the novel’s heart.

📚 Writing memory and identity in decline: We talk with Sarah about the emotionally charged process of bringing Billy’s early-onset dementia to life on the page. She shares how she honored both the vibrant man Billy was and the person he’s becoming, capturing the heartbreak of losing not just memories, but layers of identity.

📚 FREE BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST: Books About Fires

Discover 19 must-read books about fires where fire ignites drama, mystery, and transformation—perfect picks for book clubs and fans of immersive stories. Patrons receive a printable checklist and a bonus spoiler chat with Sarah Damoff, streaming today.

Meet Sarah Damoff

Sarah Damoff is the author of the debut novel, The Bright Years, published by Simon & Schuster in 2025—a national bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards finalist, now translated into fourteen languages. Her writing has appeared in Oprah Daily, Porter House Review, Ruminate Magazine, and Open Global Rights. She holds a Child Protection Certification from Harvard University and lives with her family in Dallas, Texas, where she has worked as a social worker. The Burning Side arrives in stores on May 19th.

Mentioned in this episode:

Janelle Brown Interview (What Kind of Paradise)

NEW: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations)

NEW BOOK LIST: 19 Books About Fires

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Join the May Book Club 4/30 at 8 PM ET (What Kind of Paradise)

Christina Baker Kline (The Foursome) Podcast Interview

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Dallas Museum of Art Arts & Letters Program

Maggie O’Farrell

Valley of Forgetting by Jennie Erin Smith

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Sarah Damoff on Instagram or Her Website

The True Story Behind The Foursome with Christina Baker Kline May 12, 2026

Christina Baker Kline joins Book Gang to discuss The Foursome, a novel inspired by her family ties to the descendants of conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker.

This week’s Book Gang conversation welcomes #1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline, whose new novel The Foursome delivers a captivating book club premise inspired by the true story of Chang and Eng Bunker. Kline’s narrative follows the conjoined twins from their international stardom to settling in North Carolina, where they seek love and family, culminating in an unexpected and unforgettable love story with sisters Adelaide and Sarah.

Kline invites readers into her flourishing career, where she reflects on Orphan Train’s success and what’s changed since she began in the 1990s. For writers and readers alike, she offers compelling advice on weathering publishing changes.

In this inviting and deeply immersive conversation, we discuss:

📚 Love and loyalty knotted together: Step inside the Bunker household, where devotion, sacrifice, and longing shape both the extraordinary and everyday. Kline discusses the choreography required to flesh out the complexity of penning four lives forever entwined, and how love perseveres—and sometimes fractures—under the most unusual circumstances.

📚 Identity, exploitation, and survival: Through one sister’s intimate perspective, we witness the complexities of life alongside the Bunker twins—how questions of belonging, power, and survival shape their world, and the uncomfortable truths that arise when victims become participants in the very systems that once oppressed them as Kline explores the harder truths woven into their lives.

📚 Sights, sounds, and secrets of history: Kline transports us to nineteenth-century North Carolina in vivid detail, and discusses her literary influences who shaped the bustling farmsteads and kitchen tables, all made possible through the shadows of slavery. With 21 children and two intimate households, Kline discusses how this stretched her as a storyteller.

📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST: BOOKS ABOUT TWINS

Discover 43 books about twins that span thrillers, historical fiction, and heartfelt dramas—exploring the unique bond only these unique siblings can share. Perfect for fans of The Foursome.

Meet Christina Baker Kline

A #1 New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including Orphan Train, The Exiles, Please Don’t Lie (co-authored with Anne Burt), and the forthcoming The Foursome (May 2026), Christina Baker Kline is published in more than 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities, and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as The New York Times and The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and The San Francisco Chronicle.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW: Buy the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (help our show stay on air)

Janelle Brown Interview (What Kind of Paradise)

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Join the May Book Club 4/30 at 8 PM ET (What Kind of Paradise)

UPDATED BOOK LIST: 43 Books About Twins for Double the Drama

The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline

Christopher Paolini

Please Don’t Lie by Anne Burt and Christina Baker Kline

Watch Her Lie by Anne Burt and Christina Baker Kline

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

Historical Fiction: The Pleasures and Perils of Writing About Other Eras

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Christina Baker Kline on Instagram or Her Website

Join the May Book Club 4/30 at 8 PM ET (What Kind of Paradise)

The 2026 Summer Reading Guide Is Here May 08, 2026

The 2026 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide is here! Discover 70 must-read titles and 57 pages of fresh picks for your best summer yet.

It’s time for one of my favorite episodes: the official reveal of the 2026 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide! This year’s edition showcases 70 carefully curated titles spanning every genre, so you can find the perfect read for every summer mood.

In this special Book Gang episode, I’m sharing this year’s reading challenges with the buzziest books that didn’t deliver but ultimately changed my sails towards the unexpected, from magical days at the library for backlist fun to under-the-radar gems like the ones I’m debuting today.

Out of the 114 books I read to prepare for this one, I’m spotlighting five unforgettable novels that deserve a spot on your TBR. These new voices captured my heart, and I hope you’ll fall in love with them, too.

Grab your notebook (or open your Libby app!)—let’s dive into the WHY behind this year’s selections and get ready to build your summer reading stack.

GET THE GUIDE: Browse the 2026 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide (with ads) or receive the 57-page reading guide download ($7) to support our show. If you are a show patron, check your inbox for your copy as part of your member benefits- thank you for supporting my small business!

Meet Amy Allen Clark

Amy Allen Clark is the founder of MomAdvice.com, a vibrant online community she has nurtured since 2004. Through this platform, Amy shares practical advice on recipes, DIY projects, and book recommendations for her readers.

In 2013, Amy authored The Good Life for Less, published by Penguin, and offered families tips for running their households on a shoestring budget.

Amy launched the Book Gang Podcast in 2021. The book podcast celebrates debut authors, explores backlist titles, and highlights under-the-radar book selections. Through engaging conversations with writers and fellow book enthusiasts, Amy aims to connect you with your new favorite book.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW: Buy the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (help our show stay on air)

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Ellery Adams talks Invasive Species: Horror in the Neighborhood

Substack on Yesteryear (the religious perspective)

Stormy Daniels Isn’t Backing Down

17 Years After The Help, Kathryn Stockett Returns to Mississippi

Connect With Me:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Support the Show With a Tip on Buy Me a Coffee

Laurie Frankel Explores Autonomy at Any Age (Enormous Wings) May 01, 2026

Laurie Frankel joins Book Gang to discuss Enormous Wings, a bold, bighearted novel about aging, autonomy, and the messiness of modern family life.

This week’s Book Gang conversation welcomes New York Times bestselling author Laurie Frankel, whose latest novel delivers a juicy book club premise wrapped in the chaos and warmth of a multigenerational Jewish family. When breast cancer survivor Pepper Mills loses her home and independence, she’s thrown into a new world at Vista View Retirement Community—only to face the unimaginable: a pregnancy at seventy-seven, and a gauntlet of opinions from loved ones, doctors, and the wider world.

In this lively, surprising conversation, we discuss:

📚 Radically ordinary desires: Frankel unpacks the inspiration behind Pepper’s late-life pregnancy, exploring how aging, romance, and reproductive choice are rendered with empathy and humor. We talk about the importance of portraying older women’s desires as deeply human, never tragic or comedic.

📚 Family, autonomy, and the messiness of care: We dive into the family dynamics at the heart of Enormous Wings—how adult children can both rally around and inadvertently bulldoze their parents in the name of safety, and why there’s no right way to navigate the complexities of midlife and elder care.

📚 The riotous specificity of family: Frankel shares how she builds such vivid, lived-in characters—like grandkids who speak in emojis and National Coming Apart Day—without losing the emotional core. We discuss the joys and challenges of balancing humor, tradition, and heart in a story that celebrates both individuality and belonging.

📚 📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST:

Celebrate ageless adventures with this week’s list: 60 Books with Older Protagonists—stories that prove life’s boldest chapters can begin at any age. This has a lovely mix of upcoming releases, new releases, and backlist gems to browse. Patrons can grab a printable checklist for their next reading spree!

Meet Laurie Frankel

Laurie Frankel is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of Family Family, One Two Three, Goodbye for Now, The Atlas of Love, and the Reese’s Book Club Pick This Is How It Always Is. She lives in Seattle with her husband, daughter, and border collie. Enormous Wings is available now from Henry Holt & Co.

Mentioned in this episode:

Janelle Brown Interview (What Kind of Paradise)

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

UPDATED BOOK LIST: 60 Books With Older Protagonists

Join the May Book Club 4/30 at 8 PM ET (What Kind of Paradise)

Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Laurie Frankel on Instagram or Her Website

May Book Club: What Kind of Paradise Apr 24, 2026

Author Janelle Brown joins us as our May MomAdvice Book Club pick to discuss What Kind of Paradise, a 1990s-set literary thriller filled with twists and turns.

In our May Book Club episode, we welcome New York Times bestselling author Janelle Brown for a spoiler-free conversation about her latest literary thriller, What Kind of Paradise. This psychologically rich novel plunges readers into the chaotic optimism of the 1990s dot-com era, unraveling the deeper currents of family, technology, and survival that shape its unforgettable characters.

Through the story of Esme—a gifted coder navigating the promise and perils of the 1990s tech boom and her father’s ideological obsessions—Brown crafts a compulsively readable tale that asks what we inherit, what we choose, and what we risk in pursuit of our own paradise.

In this fascinating conversation, we discuss:

📚 Navigating genre and story ambition: Janelle Brown shares how What Kind of Paradise pushes her fiction into new territory in her first story set in the past, blending domestic drama with survival thriller. She discusses why she refuses to be boxed in by genre, letting character and theme dictate form, and how this approach challenges her creatively and sets this novel apart from her previous work.

📚 Crafting propulsive character-driven suspense: Brown reveals how What Kind of Paradise presented unique challenges of writing a story set in the 1990s tech boom and how this novel stretched her craft in both structure and voice, including the thin archives from this time in history.

📚 Technology, ideology, and generational tension: Brown discusses how her early days in technology shaped this story and what her insider lens brought to it. She explains why Esme’s journey is about claiming freedom and curiosity in a world where technology can be weaponized, and how these dynamics reflect the broader cultural anxieties we face right now through her father’s intriguing backstory.

📚 📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST:

This week’s companion list features 32 Literary Thrillers You Can’t Put Down—a curated mix of new favorites and essential classics for every suspense lover. Check out the printable checklist for your next reading adventure and unlock a spoiler chat with Janelle Brown discussing her novel’s more surprising themes.

Meet Janelle Brown

Janelle Brown is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels What Kind of Paradise, I’ll Be You, Pretty Things, Watch Me Disappear, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything, and This Is Where We Live. Her books have been translated into more than two dozen languages and several are in development for television. She’s the recipient of the American Library Association’s Alex Award, and her journalism and essays have appeared in The New York Times, Vogue, Elle, Wired, and more.

A former senior writer at Salon and early staff writer at Wired during the dot-com boom, Brown also co-founded Maxi, a pioneering women’s pop culture Webzine. Originally from San Francisco and a UC Berkeley graduate, she now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children. What Kind of Paradise is available now wherever books are sold.

Mentioned in this episode:

Gratitude to Our Show Patrons: This week's episode is open to all listeners thanks to generous donations made through Buy Me a Coffee and your community memberships. If you'd like to keep the conversation going, you're invited to join our Patreon Book Club chat on April 30th at 8 PM ET, where we'll dive deeper into spoilers, themes, and reader reactions. Membership is $5 a month, or you can prepay for the year and save 10%.

Sam Wachman Interview (The Sunflower Boys)

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

NEW BOOK LIST: 32 Literary Thrillers You Can’t Put Down

Join the April Book Club 4/30 at 8 PM ET (The Sunflower Boys)

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Janelle Brown on Instagram or Her Website

If You Loved Ferrante, Read This Next (A Splintering) Apr 17, 2026

Dur e Aziz Amna joins us to discuss A Splintering, a sharp, compulsive novel about class, ambition, and the cost of becoming who you believe you’re meant to be.

This week’s Book Gang conversation brings us together with award-winning author Dur e Aziz Amna to talk about A Splintering, a novel that pulls you in from its very first line and refuses to let the reader go. This novel made my Best Books of the Year list, and I'm so excited to celebrate this story today.

From a childhood shaped by poverty in rural Pakistan to the calculated, high-stakes world of social mobility, Amna introduces us to Tara—a narrator who dares you to judge her even as she demands to be understood. This is a story about ambition sharpened by circumstance, about the quiet and not-so-quiet ways women navigate power, and about what it means to reshape your life when the world has already decided your place within it.

In this compelling conversation, we discuss:

📚 The making of a sharper, more unflinching novel: Dur e Aziz Amna reflects on the journey from American Fever to A Splintering, exploring how success reshapes creative pressure—and how this novel emerged as something darker, more daring, and more structurally ambitious in both voice and scope.

📚 A narrator who challenges the reader’s loyalty: We dive into Tara’s arresting opening and what it means to build a story around a protagonist who is not asking to be liked, but understood. Through voice, structure, and intimate address, Amna redefines the relationship between reader and character, asking us to sit with discomfort rather than resolve it.

📚 Class, ambition, and the cost of reinvention: From sibling dynamics shaped by patriarchy to marriage as a strategic turning point, this conversation unpacks the systems that shape Tara’s choices—and the psychological and moral fractures that come with upward mobility in a world where nothing is freely given.

📚 📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST:

Don’t miss this week’s companion list featuring 29 South Asian Books—a mix of brand new novels and essential backlist books that pair beautifully with A Splintering. Patrons will receive a printable checklist to take along on their next library visit!

Meet Dur e Aziz Amna

Dur e Aziz Amna is the author of A Splintering, winner of the Stanfords Prize for Fiction and a BBC Book Club pick. Her debut novel, American Fever, received the South Asian Book Award and the APALA Award for Literature. Her writing has appeared in major publications, including the New York Times, Financial Times, and Al Jazeera, and she was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2022.

Born and raised in Pakistan, she is a graduate of Yale College and the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan, and currently lives in the United States. A Splintering is available on bookstore shelves now in the U.S. and the U.K.

Mentioned in this episode:

My Best Books of 2025

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 29 South Asian Books to Fall In Love With

Sam Wachman Interview (The Sunflower Boys)

Join the April Book Club 4/30 at 8 PM ET (The Sunflower Boys)

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

A Splintering by Dur e Aziz Amna

American Fever by Dur e Aziz Amna

The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante

Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein

Interviews with History and Conversations with Power by Oriana Fallaci

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Dur e Aziz Amna on Instagram or Her Website

The Scandalous Women Who Started It All Apr 10, 2026

Gill Paul discusses Scandalous Women, the 1960s publishing world, and the iconic female authors who redefined storytelling in this backlist feature.

Let's get some literary hinges to our reading lives in this backlist feature. This week's Book Gang conversation brings us together with international bestselling author Gill Paul to talk about Scandalous Women. Paul transports readers into the electric, high-stakes world of 1960s publishing, where two women didn’t just write bestselling books—they changed what women were allowed to write about at all.

If you’ve ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes of the books we love (the deals, the risks, the moments that quietly reshape an entire industry), this conversation is such a treat with a true insider.

In this fascinating conversation, we discuss:

📚 From editor to international bestselling author: Gill reflects on her journey from working inside publishing to becoming a globally recognized novelist, sharing what she understands now about the industry that many writers and readers often misunderstand.

📚 The “two Jackies” who changed publishing forever: We dive into the lives of Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins—their controversial novels, massive commercial success, and the backlash they faced for writing openly about female ambition and desire.

📚 Recreating the 1960s publishing world from the inside out: Through research and the lens of a fictional editorial assistant, Gill brings to life the high-stakes, male-dominated publishing landscape where readers get an inside look at how the publishing industry worked in the 1960s.

📚 📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST:

Don’t miss this week’s companion list featuring 43 Fascinating Books About Authors and Publishing to celebrate Scandalous Women. I am including my all-time favorites and a few new releases I can't wait to read. Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists for their next library visit!

Meet Gill Paul

Gill Paul is the author of thirteen historical novels, which have sold over a million copies, hit the top five in the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Toronto Globe & Mail bestseller lists, and have been translated into twenty-four languages. Her novel SCANDALOUS WOMEN is about Jackie Collins, Jacqueline Susann, and the misogyny of the 1960s publishing industry. Gill lives in London where she swims year-round in a wild pond, and speaks at libraries and festivals on topics ranging from Tutankhamun to the Romanovs.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the April Book Club 4/30 at 8 PM ET (The Sunflower Boys)

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 43 Fascinating Books About Authors and Publishing

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Scandalous Women by Gill Paul

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins

Lucky by Jackie Collins

Love Stories series

The Manhattan Girls by Gill Paul

Lovely Me by Barbara Seaman

The World is Full of Married Men by Jackie Collins

Lady Boss

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Kanner’s Syndrome

Life with Jackie by Irving Mansfield

Sex and the Single Girl by Helen Gurley Brown

Peyton Place by Grace Metalious

Jackie Collins on Loose Women

Barbara Cartland and Jackie Collins Confrontation

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Gill Paul on Instagram or Her Website

April Book Club: The Sunflower Boys Apr 03, 2026

Author Sam Wachman joins us as our April MomAdvice Book Club pick to discuss The Sunflower Boys, a powerful coming-of-age story set during the war in Ukraine.

This week, Sam Wachman joins Book Gang to discuss The Sunflower Boys, our April MomAdvice Book Club pick. This story offers a remarkable blend of the tenderness of boyhood and the brutality of war, set against the backdrop of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, bringing to life its heartbreaking history.

As the brothers in this story undertake a harrowing journey across a war-torn landscape, a love of art becomes both guide and witness, leading these two boys toward hope and a desperate reunion with their father. Wachman offers a war chronicle and an intimate, profoundly human portrayal of the enduring spirit of family, deeply humanizing the Ukrainian struggle.

In this remarkable conversation, we discuss:

📚 From the classroom to the page: Before writing The Sunflower Boys, Sam Wachman taught English to primary school students in Ukraine—an experience that deeply shaped the emotional core of this novel. We discuss how those relationships with Ukrainian youth helped him build Artem’s voice with such tenderness, specificity, and care.

📚 Art as structure, memory, and survival: One of the most striking elements of this novel is its structure—100 chapters shaped by Artem’s sketches. Sam shares how this artistic framework guided not just the pacing of the story but also its emotional rhythm.

📚 Writing war through a child’s lens: Drawing from his time working with Ukrainian families and refugees, Sam approached this story with a deep sense of responsibility. We talk about how he balanced honesty with restraint while writing from a 12-year-old’s perspective—capturing fear, confusion, and resilience without overwhelming the reader—and why that lens might be the most powerful way to understand the human cost of war.

📚 📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST:

Don’t miss this week’s companion list featuring 24 books about siblings, inspired by this week's story of brothers. I am including my all-time favorites and a few new releases I can't wait to read. Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists for their next library visit!

Meet Sam Wachman

Sam Wachman is a writer from Cambridge, Massachusetts with Ukrainian roots. His work has appeared in Sonora Review, Berkeley Fiction Review, and River Styx. Before writing The Sunflower Boys, he taught English to primary schoolers in central Ukraine and worked with refugee families across Europe and the United States. This deeply affecting novel is his debut.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the April Book Club 4/30 at 8 PM ET (The Sunflower Boys)

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 24 Books About Siblings

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman

Gays Reading Podcast

Open, Heaven by Seán Hewitt

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Sam Wachman on Instagram or His Website

The Beheading Game Reanimates Tudor History Mar 27, 2026

Rebecca Lehmann discusses The Beheading Game, a lyrical reimagining of Anne Boleyn awakening after her execution to reclaim her story.

This week, we're stepping into a story we think we know and unsettling it completely. Rebecca Lehmann joins Book Gang to talk about The Beheading Game, a bold and genre-bending debut, with Anne Boleyn awakening in her coffin, gathering herself—quite literally—and setting out into the world.

But rather than a fast-paced tale of revenge, this novel unfolds as a deeply moving, introspective journey through grief, motherhood, class, and the stories history tells about women. Together, we explore what it means to reframe a figure so often reduced to scandal, how poetic language shapes narrative, and why this story lingers in the quiet spaces of reckoning rather than spectacle.

In this fascinating conversation, we explore:

📚 From Poet to Novelist: Rebecca shares how her background as an award-winning poet shaped the language and structure of this novel, what the Iowa Writers’ Workshop taught her about craft, and what she had to unlearn when stepping into long-form fiction.

📚 Reimagining Anne Boleyn After Death: We dive into the unforgettable opening scene—Anne awakening in her coffin and sewing her head back onto her body—and what it meant to begin the story at the end. Rebecca discusses how she approached writing Anne not as a legend, but as a woman processing the collapse of her life, her marriage, and her legacy.

📚 Motherhood, Memory, and Reckoning: At its heart, this is a story about a mother trying to make sense of what she’s lost. We talk about Anne’s longing for her daughter, Elizabeth —the emotional core of the novel —and how this reimagining invites readers to see her not as a cautionary tale but as a fully realized woman.

📚📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don’t miss this week’s companion book list with 17 Tudor Books—perfect for readers who want to stay in this world a little longer. Patrons will receive a weekly printable checklist for their next library visit!

Meet Rebecca Lehmann

Rebecca Lehmann is an award-winning poet and essayist and the author of three poetry collections, including Ringer, which won the AWP Donald Hall Prize. She holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and is an associate professor of English and Gender & Women’s Studies at Saint Mary's College. Her work has appeared in The American Poetry Review, The Kenyon Review, NPR’s The Slowdown, and more. She lives in Indiana with her family.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the April Book Club 4/30 at 8 PM ET (The Sunflower Boys)

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 17 Tudor Books to Explore the Original Royal Drama

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann

The Tudors

Wolf Hall Books by Hilary Mantel

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

Kelly Link

Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Rebecca Lehmann on Instagram

Join the March Book Club 3/26 at 8 PM ET (The Mad Wife)

The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness (Vault Session) Mar 20, 2026

In The Lady’s Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness, Sarah Ramey shares her journey through chronic illness and the medical system’s blind spots.

This week, we're bringing forward a powerful 2022 conversation with Sarah Ramey, author of The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness, whose novel was selected as a MomAdvice Book Club Book the year that this conversation was recorded.

This discussion remains as urgent and resonant today as when it first aired, offering an unflinching look at chronic illness, medical bias, and the stories women are too often forced to carry alone. In this episode, we also discuss the complexities of the mind-body connection, the role of privilege in accessing care, and the turning point that led Sarah toward healing through functional medicine.

Anne Patchett featured The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness in her "If You Haven't Read This Book, It's New to You" series for Parnassus Books. She described it as crackling, electrifying, funny, and fast-paced—a book that will outrage you and one you won't be able to put down. I co-sign this recommendation and am proud to pull this out from our studio vault as we celebrate this month's book club book, The Mad Wife, and the ways women's health has been so misunderstood.

In this spoiler-filled conversation:

📚 A deeply personal look at life before and after chronic illness: Sarah reflects on her "B.C." life—before chronic illness—and what it means to lose, grieve, and reconstruct identity when your body no longer cooperates.

📚 Unpacking medical gaslighting and gender bias in healthcare: From being dismissed as "mentally ill" to navigating systemic disbelief, we explore why women's pain is so often minimized—and what must change within the medical system.

📚 Listening to hundreds of women—and finding patterns in pain: Drawing from interviews with over 200 women, Sarah shares the common threads in their experiences, the emotional toll of carrying those stories, and how movements like #MeToo helped create space for this conversation.

📚📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's NEW companion list with 24 Medical Drama Books to Get Your Heart Racing, available to reserve now for your best weekend ever. Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists for their next library visit!

Meet Sarah Ramey

Sarah Ramey is a writer and musician (known as Wolf Larsen) living in Tucson, Arizona. She received an MFA in creative nonfiction writing from Columbia University, and was a blogger for President Obama’s 2008 campaign.

She is the recipient of a Whiting Foundation grant for nonfiction, the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation residency grant, and has been featured in The Paris Review, NPR, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, Salon, Refinery 29, LitHub, and The Washingtonian. The Lady’s Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness was an Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best Memoirs, it was a starred selection for Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist, and it was chosen as one of the best books of 2020 by BookPage.

Sarah has been living with serious chronic pain and illness for seventeen years, and The Lady’s Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness is her first book.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Today's Show Transcript

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 24 Medical Drama Books to Get Your Heart Racing

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

You With the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate

The Lady’s Handbook for Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey

Ann Patchett on The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness

Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn

Chronic Pain is Surprisingly Easy to Treat

Sarno

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

Katherine May

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Sarah Ramey on Instagram or Her Website

Join the March Book Club 3/26 at 8 PM ET (The Mad Wife)

March Book Club: The Mad Wife (Reader's Choice Selection) Mar 13, 2026

Bestselling author Meagan Church returns to discuss our March Book Club selection, The Mad Wife, and its whirlwind success.

This month, we welcome Meagan Church back to Book Gang to celebrate our March Reader's Choice selection, The Mad Wife—the most-voted book by our community. Meagan first joined us earlier in her writing journey to discuss the inspiration behind this story. Now she returns following the novel's breakout success, including appearances on the bestseller lists and recognition as a Barnes & Noble Fiction Pick.

In this follow-up conversation, we talk about how Life has changed since The Mad Wife reached readers around the country—from touring and meeting fans to seeing Lulu's story resonate with audiences. We also take a lighter turn with a fun round of writer habits, reading life confessions, and quickfire questions designed to help listeners get to know Meagan beyond the page.

In this spoiler-free conversation with my friend, we explore:

📚 Celebrating a bestselling moment: Meagan reflects on The Mad Wife becoming a Barnes & Noble Fiction Pick and landing on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.

📚 Life after publication: From book tours to meeting readers face-to-face, Meagan shares how the response to Lulu's story has shaped her perspective on storytelling and future projects.

📚 Getting to know the writer: In a fun closing segment, Meagan talks about her writing rituals, reading Life, favorite bookstores, and the habits that keep her creative process moving.

Meet Meagan Church

Meagan Church is the Southern indie bestselling author of The Girls We Sent Away, The Last Carolina Girl , and The Mad Wife, this month's Barnes & Noble Book fiction pick. She writes to tell grounded stories that explore the complexity of human nature. Her historical fiction chronicles the plight and fight of unheard voices of the past. After receiving a B.A. in English from Indiana University, Meagan built a career as a storyteller and freelance writer for brands, blogs, and organizations. She is an adjunct professor for Drexel University's MFA in Creative Writing program, helping authors tell their own stories through editing, coaching, and workshops. A Midwesterner by birth, she now lives in North Carolina with her high school sweetheart, three children, and a plethora of pets.

Mentioned in this episode:

Gratitude to Our Show Patrons: This week's episode is open to all listeners thanks to generous donations made through Buy Me a Coffee and your community memberships. If you'd like to keep the conversation going, you're invited to join our Patreon Book Club chat on March 26th at 8 PM ET, where we'll dive deeper into spoilers, themes, and reader reactions WITH MEAGAN. Membership is $5 a month, or you can prepay for the year and save 10%.

Download Today's Show Transcript (Scroll down to view second episode)

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 24 Medical Drama Books to Get Your Heart Racing

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Unmasking Hysteria in The Mad Wife Podcast

Meagan's spoiler episode

The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church

The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church

The Mad Wife by Meagan Church

Cleary Bookstore

The Mad Wife Spotify Playlist

Story Genius by Lisa Cron

Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner

Everything is Spiritual by Rob Bell

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

Orbital by Samatha Harvey

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

Hit the Road with Annie Hartnett Podcast

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

How Shark Heart Transformed Emily Habeck and Her Readers

Olivia Muenter - Such a Bad Influence Podcast

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Parnassus Books

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Meagan Church on Instagram or her Website

Where the Girls Were Brings a Mother's Haunting Story to Light Mar 06, 2026

Kate Schatz joins the show to discuss Where the Girls Were, a novel inspired by the hidden history of maternity homes and the young women sent away during the 1960s.

This week, Kate Schatz joins the Book Gang podcast to discuss her adult fiction debut, Where the Girls Were, a novel that explores a little-discussed chapter of American history: the maternity homes that housed more than a million young women during the 1950s and 1960s. Drawing inspiration from her own family's haunting history and years of research, Schatz brings readers into the world of a teenage prodigy sent away to give birth in secret just weeks before graduating high school.

In our conversation, we discuss how the story first took shape, the transition from writing nonfiction about activism and history to crafting a deeply researched novel, and the realities of maternity homes in the mid-twentieth century. Schatz also shares some of the surprising details uncovered during her research.

In this fascinating conversation, we explore:

📚 From Rad Women to Fiction: Kate shares her journey from bestselling nonfiction author and activist to novelist, revealing how writing Where the Girls Were challenged her craft and deepened her understanding of history, activism, and personal storytelling.

📚 The Family Story Behind the Novel: Schatz shares how learning about her mother's experience with pregnancy and closed adoption in the mid-20th century shaped the inspiration and research behind the book.

📚 Uncovering Hidden Histories: We discuss the surprising and sometimes shocking research Kate unearthed about maternity homes, women's health, and the realities faced by girls in the 1960s, including the curious role of rabbits in pregnancy tests.

📚📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's NEW companion list with 27 Books About the 1960s to escape into another timeline, available to reserve now for your best weekend ever. Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists for their next library visit!

Meet Kate Schatz

KATE SCHATZ is a New York Times bestselling author, public speaker, writing teacher, and queer feminist parent who's been talking, writing, and teaching about race, gender, social justice, and equity for many years. Her books include the novel Where the Girls Were; Do the Work: An Anti-Racist Activity Book, with W. Kamau Bell, the comedian and Emmy-winning host of CNN's United Shades of America; the "Rad Women" book series (including Rad American Women A-Z, Rad Women Worldwide, and Rad American History A-Z), which have sold over 300,000 copies and been translated into four languages; and Rid of Me: A Story, published in 2007 as part of the cult-favorite 33 ⅓ series.

Kate has taught writing and Women's Studies at Brown University, Rhode Island College, San Jose State, and UC Santa Cruz. Born and raised in San Jose, California, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her wife, their three kids, and their many pets. Where the Girls Were is her fiction debut and is available on store shelves now.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the March Book Club 3/26 at 8 PM ET (The Mad Wife)

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 27 Books About the 1960s

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Where the Girls Were by Kate Schatz

Do the Work: An Antiracist Activity Book by W. Kamau Bell & Kate Schatz

Rad American Women by Kate Schatz

Rad Women Worldwide by Kate Schatz

Rad Girls Can by Kate Schatz

Rad American History by Kate Schatz

Kate Schatz

Rabbit Test

Our Bodies, Ourselves by Boston Women's Health Book Collective

The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler

Saints for All Occasions by J Courtney Sullivan

When Abortion Was a Crime by Leslie J Reagan

Wake Up Little Susie by Rickie Solinger

Relinquished by Gretchen Sisson

My Mother's Daughter by Tracy Clark-Flory

Want Me by Tracy Clark-Flory

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Kate Schatz on Instagram or Her Website

Lady Tremaine Reimagines Cinderella Feb 27, 2026

Rachel Hochhauser joins us to discuss her debut novel, Lady Tremaine, a reimagining of Cinderella told from the perspective of its most misunderstood figure.

This week, we're stepping back into a story we think we know, and turning it inside out. Rachel Hochhauser joins us to talk about her debut novel, Lady Tremaine, a bold and lyrical reimagining of Cinderella told from the perspective of its most misunderstood figure. Together, we explore what it means to reclaim a villain, the power structures embedded in fairy tales, and the quiet, often invisible labor of women navigating survival in a world that offers them very little protection. This conversation is full of trivia, with fascinating tidbits about falcons to reimagining the hinges of one of our favorite fairy tales.

In this fascinating conversation, we explore:

📚 From Puzzle Maker to Published Debut: Rachel walks us through her emotional journey to publication — from manuscript to agent to book deal — and reflects on the realities of the debut journey, while celebrating how her two unique jobs intertwine. Don't worry, we DO talk about her jigsaw puzzle process!

📚 Rewriting a Villain's Origin Story: Rachel shares the first spark behind telling Cinderella from Lady Tremaine's perspective and the challenge of reshaping a fixed fairy tale into something historically grounded, emotionally layered, and narratively new.

📚 Crafting Voice, Research, and Power

We explore the lyrical rhythm of her prose, the fascinating research behind the scenes with the falcon, and how the rivalry between Etheldreda and the Queen allowed her to examine power, motherhood, and structural limits placed on women in a way that she's excited to share with the next generation of readers.

📚📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's companion list with 31 Fairy Tale Retellings, available to reserve now for your best weekend ever. Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists for their next library visit!

Meet Rachel Hochhauser

Rachel Hochhauser is a writer and co-founder of Piecework, a cult-favorite puzzle brand. Raised in Santa Barbara, she studied at New York University and earned her master's in fiction from the University of Southern California. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two daughters. Lady Tremaine is her debut novel and available on store shelves on March 3rd.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Best Books I Read in 2025 (Full List)

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 31 Fairy Tale Retellings to Enchant Your Reading Life

Join the March Book Club 3/26 at 8 PM ET (The Mad Wife)

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

Returning to Magical Realism with Eowyn Ivey (Podcast Episode)

Circe by Madeline Miller

The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks

The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Rachel Hochhauser on Instagram or Her Website

Join the February Book Club 2/26 at 8 PM ET (People of Means)

In the Shadow of the Brick Kilns of Pakistan (When the Fireflies Dance) Feb 20, 2026

Aisha Hassan discusses her debut novel, When the Fireflies Dance, a moving family saga set in Lahore and the research inspired by real stories of bonded labor.

In this week's episode of Book Gang, I'm excited to share my conversation with debut novelist Aisha Hassan about her first novel, When the Fireflies Dance. This moving family saga is set in Lahore and draws on real-life stories of bonded labor in Pakistan's brick kilns. The narrative follows one family's struggle for survival, dignity, and hope after the loss of their son. During our discussion, we explore Aisha's journey to publication, the intricate construction of her novel, and the important responsibility of addressing social injustices through fiction.

In this informative conversation, we explore:

📚 A Steady Road to Publication: Aisha reflects on the early spark for the novel, her process of finding an agent, and what the reality of a debut journey looked like behind the scenes, including the quieter, less glamorous parts of bringing a first book into the world.

📚 Building Lahore on the Page: We talk about her early visits to brick kilns, the environmental realities of red dust and smoke that shape the novel's atmosphere, and how she constructed a world where ecological harm and economic injustice are ever-present forces.

📚 Family, Memory, and Revelation: A death in the family shadows every chapter. Aisha explains her decision to reveal trauma in fragments, the symbolism of the fireflies in her story, and what she hopes readers understand about bonded labor after turning the final page.

📚📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's companion list with 41 Family Drama Books to Escape Your Real Life, available to reserve now for your best weekend ever. Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists for their next library visit!

Meet Aisha Hassan

Aisha Hassan is an award-winning writer living and working in London. A graduate of the University of Oxford's prestigious Creative Writing Master's programme and a Curtis Brown Creative alumna, Aisha's play Pickled Mangoes was performed at Soho Theatre, and her poetry has appeared in Under the Radar and Campus magazines. WHEN THE FIREFLIES DANCE is her debut novel and has been longlisted for the Bridport Novel Award and Hachette's Mo Siewcharran Prize, and shortlisted for the London Writers Award. As a child, she lived in Lahore, Pakistan.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Today's Show Transcript

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 41 Family Drama Books to Escape Real Life

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

When the Fireflies Dance by Aisha Hassan (KINDLE UNLIMITED)

The Whalebone Theater by Joanna Quinn

White Mughals by William Dalrymple

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Bee Keeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

A Splintering Dur e Aziz Amna

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Aisha Hassan on Instagram or Her Website

Join the February Book Club 2/26 at 8 PM ET (People of Means)

Little Movements: A Grown-Up Coming-of-Age in Motion Feb 13, 2026

Debut author Lauren Morrow joins us to discuss Little Movements, a sharp, funny, and deeply perceptive literary novel set in the world of professional dance.

Lauren Morrow joins Book Gang to discuss her satirical novel, Little Movements, which follows Layla, a Black choreographer navigating a fragile marriage, a long-delayed hope of motherhood, and a career-defining opportunity at a prestigious arts institution.

When Layla relocates alone to create a new piece from the ground up, she finds herself confronting not just the physical demands of dance but the subtler pressures of tokenization, institutional expectations, and who gets to define what her work "means."

Drawing from Morrow's background in dance and arts publicity, Little Movements offers an insider's view of how cultural organizations frame progress, how money shapes artistic freedom, and how women—especially Black women—are often asked to carry symbolic weight they never volunteered for.

In this fascinating conversation, we explore:

📚 From MFA to debut novel: Lauren takes us back to the earliest seed of Little Movements, how her time at the Helen Zell Writers' Program shaped the book, and what her path to publication looked like once the manuscript was complete. We also talk candidly about celebrating the "yes" and what it really entails to debut with a literary novel.

📚 Writing the politics of art: We dig into the behind-the-scenes realities of the dance world as a Black woman, including institutional language, and the quiet pressure placed on artists to make their work "say something," for others.

📚 Capturing movement on a page: Lauren shares how she approached putting dance on the page, given its inherent visual and kinetic qualities. We discuss the techniques she used in her prose to make readers feel the movement on the page, even if they haven't danced themselves.

📚📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's companion list with These 21 Books About Ballet Took Me Back to the Barre to reserve now to celebrate the arts! Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists for their next library visit!

Meet Lauren Morrow

Lauren Morrow studied dance and creative writing at Connecticut College and earned an MFA in fiction from the University of Michigan's Helen Zell Writers' Program. She was a Kimbilio Fellow, an Aspen Words Emerging Writer Fellow, and the recipient of two Hopwood Awards, among other prizes. Her writing has appeared in Ploughshares and The South Carolina Review. She worked in publicity at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and is now a publicity manager at Dutton, Plume, and Tiny Reparations Books. Originally from St. Louis, she lives in Brooklyn.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Today's Show Transcript

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: These 21 Books About Ballet Took Me Back to the Barre

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Little Movements by Lauren Morrow

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

Alvin Ailey's Revelations

Dance Theater of Harlem

Ailey II

Naima Coster

Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires

Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans

Luster by Raven Leilani

Come and Get It by Kiley Reid

James by Percival Everett

Erasure by Percival Everett

American Fiction

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

The Feath3r Theory

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Lauren Morrow on Instagram or Her Website

Download Today's Transcript

February Book Club: People of Means Feb 06, 2026

Author Nancy Johnson joins us to discuss People of Means, our February Book Club selection for Black History Month, a powerful, moving dual-timeline novel.

Nancy Johnson joins Book Gang to discuss her richly layered second novel, which explores race, class, ambition, and resistance in 1960s Nashville and 1992 Chicago, offering readers a perfectly baked reading experience for Black History Month.

In this deeply thoughtful conversation, Nancy reflects on writing a novel that spans decades—from the Jim Crow South and the Fisk University protest movement to the corporate corridors of the early 1990s and the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict. We talk about generational inheritance, the pressures of Black excellence, and the quiet, everyday decisions that shape history just as much as headline-making acts of protest.

Nancy also shares what it was like to speak atFisk University, a moment that mirrors the heart of People of Means, and how beginning her fiction career later in life shaped both her confidence and her creative freedom. From navigating second-novel pressure to crafting two distinct voices for Freda and Tulip, this conversation offers insight into both the craft of writing and the moral questions at the center of the book.

In this enlightening conversation, we explore:

📚 Privilege, "Black excellence," and the cost of being exceptional: Through Freda and Tulip, People of Means interrogates the idea of excellence as both inheritance and burden. Nancy unpacks how upward mobility creates opportunity while also setting expectations that can be overwhelming.

📚 Dual timelines as moral mirrors: Spanning 1960s Nashville and 1992 Chicago, the novel places two women of means at pivotal historical moments—the Fisk University protests during Jim Crow and the Rodney King and Latasha Harlins aftermath. Nancy shares how she differentiated Freda's and Tulip's voices while maintaining an emotional throughline.

📚 Everyday resistance and the responsibility of those with "means": Rather than centering grand acts of activism, People of Means asks what responsibility looks like in daily life—at work, within families, and in moments where silence feels safer than speaking up.

📚📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's companion list: 29 Dual-Timeline Novels that use this as the heart of their story structure. I am including my all-time favorites and a few new releases I can't wait to read. Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists for their next library visit!

Meet Nancy Johnson

A native of Chicago's South Side, Nancy Johnson worked for more than a decade as an Emmy-nominated, award-winning television journalist at CBS and ABC affiliates nationwide.

Her second novel, People of Means, published by William Morrow/HarperCollins, was named one of PEOPLE Magazine's Most Anticipated Books of 2025, with praise from NPR, Real Simple, Southern Living, Woman's World, and more.

Her debut novel, The Kindest Lie, was a New York Times Editors' Choice and received widespread critical acclaim. A graduate of Northwestern University and UNC–Chapel Hill, Nancy lives in downtown Chicago, where she works as a director of brand journalism and storytelling for a major healthcare nonprofit.

Mentioned in this episode:

Gratitude to Our Show Patrons: This week's episode is open to all listeners thanks to generous donations made through Buy Me a Coffee and your community memberships. If you'd like to keep the conversation going, you're invited to join our Patreon Book Club chat on February 26 at 8 PM ET, where we'll dive deeper into spoilers, themes, and reader reactions. Membership is $5 a month, or you can prepay for the year and save 10%.

NEW BOOK LIST: 29 Dual-Timeline Books to Read Now

Join the February Book Club 2/26 at 8 PM ET (People of Means)

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

People of Means by Nancy Johnson

The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson

Fisk University Speech

Diane Nash

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Nancy Johnson on Instagram or Her Website

Family of Spies and the Secrets That Shaped a Family Jan 30, 2026

Journalist Christine Kuehn joins us to discuss Family of Spies and her gripping emotional reckoning with her family’s shocking personal ties to Nazi espionage.

The book begins in 1994, when a single letter from a historian pierces Kuehn’s quiet suburban life, revealing a secret she never suspected. Kuehn discovered that members of her own family were Nazi intelligence agents. What follows is a thirty-year investigation that pulls from FBI files, government and family archives, photographs, correspondence, and interviews.

In today's Book Gang conversation, Kuehn reflects on reporting on her own lineage, the ethical and emotional stakes of uncovering a truth that implicates the people who raised her, and how she structured the book across dual timelines to hold both the global history and her personal reckoning.

This episode airs the week of National Holocaust Remembrance Day. This moment calls us to remember not only the victims of Nazi violence, but also the systems, enablers, and silences that allowed it to spread. Christine now uses her research to support Jewish organizations, which you will hear about in today's conversation as we unbox the past together.

In this emotional conversation, we explore:

📚 A letter that rewrote a life: Christine walks us through the 1994 moment that sent her on a decades-long quest for truth. We talk about disbelief, denial, and what it feels like to realize your family story is not the one you were told.

📚 Investigating your own inheritance: Drawing on her background as a journalist, Christine explains how her research methods evolved as new archives opened and technology advanced, how she assessed unreliable or conflicting memories, and what it was like to work alongside her husband while racing against her father’s dementia.

📚 Espionage hidden in plain sight: We unpack the book’s most chilling revelations. Nazi agents embedded in 1930s Hawaii, social fronts built on glamour and charm, and how everyday excess eventually drew the FBI’s attention.

📚📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s companion book list features 22 Books About Spies that include both fiction and nonfiction titles to give Christine's book a landing place. Patrons will receive printable checklists for their next visit to the library!

Meet Christine Kuehn

Christine Kuehn was cocooned in the sanctity of a quiet suburban life when, in 1994, a letter from a historian pierced that bubble, sending her on a thirty-year quest to uncover a horrendous family secret kept hidden for half a century. Following a career in journalism, public relations, and nonprofits, Christine now lives in Maryland with her husband, close to their three grown children. Family of Spies is her debut book.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the February Book Club 2/26 at 8 PM ET (People of Means)

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 22 Books About Spies to Read Now

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

People of Means by Nancy Johnson

Milo Todd is Reclaiming Trans History (The Lilac People)

Family of Spies by Christine Kuhn

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

Table for Two by Amor Towles

Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

At Dawn We Slept by Gordon W. Prange

Shirley Temple in Hawaii

Royal Hawaiian

The World’s 30 Greatest Women Spies by Kurt D. Singer

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Christine Kuehn on Instagram

When Pain Becomes Content (Just Watch Me) Jan 23, 2026

Author Lior Torenberg unpacks her debut Just Watch Me, a darkly funny livestream novel that exposes the cost of performing pain online, and our hunger to watch.

Debut author Lior Torenberg joins us to talk about Just Watch Me, a bold, internet-shaped novel that unfolds over seven days of nonstop livestreaming. Together, we dig into what it means to write fiction rooted in our current digital moment, and why stories about performance feel so urgent right now.

We talk about Torenberg’s path from initial concept to publication, the realities of debuting with a formally inventive novel, and the creative risks of building a narrative around livestream chats, audience participation, and escalating dares. She also walks us through the choice to compress the story into a single week, and how that story structure intensifies both tension and intimacy.

In this fun conversation, we explore:

📚 Writing inside internet culture: Lior discusses the creative risks of anchoring a debut novel so firmly in 2020s livestream culture, why she wasn’t afraid of the book “dating” itself, and how she captured the chaos of livestream chats—misspellings, slang, trolls, and all—while keeping the story readable and propulsive.

📚 Performance, pain, and the cost of being seen: We unpack the escalating hot pepper challenges, Dell’s physical vulnerability, and the darker questions the book raises about what audiences are willing to watch (and what creators are willing to endure) when financial survival depends on strangers.

📚 Loneliness, debt, and the gig-economy cliff edge: Beneath the dark humor and inventive form, Just Watch Me is a deeply human story about grief, medical debt, and the feast-or-famine reality of online survival. Lior reflects on how she wanted readers to feel about Dell by the end—and what the novel reveals about our collective longing to be noticed.

📚📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s companion list features 43 Debut Books of 2026, including every upcoming release currently on my radar (plus future podcast guests) so you can start reserving library holds and building your TBR early. Patrons will receive printable checklists for their next visit to the library!

Meet Lior Torenberg

Lior Torenberg’s work has been published by One Story, MAYDAY, the Poetry Society of New York, and others. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from New York University and is a graduate of the Lighthouse Writers Workshop’s Book Project. Just Watch Me is her first novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the January Book Club 1/29 at 8 PM ET (Eleanore of Avignon)

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: These Debut Books of 2026 Should Not Be Missed

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg

NYC Hot Sauce Expo

TTYL Series by Lauren Myracle

Margot’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

Hot Ones

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Lior Torenberg on Instagram or her Website

January Book Club: Eleanore of Avignon Jan 16, 2026

Author Elizabeth DeLozier joins us to discuss Eleanore of Avignon, our January Book Club pick, and her bold debut, shaped by plague, medicine, and female power.

In this free conversation, Elizabeth DeLozier takes us behind the scenes of Eleanore of Avignon—a richly researched historical novel set during the Black Death, written during the modern pandemic that reshaped how many of us think about illness, fear, and survival.

Elizabeth shares how long it took to bring this ambitious debut from first idea to finished book, what it was like to pitch such a high-stakes story as a first novel, and how her background in medicine deeply informed the way she wrote Eleanore’s work as a healer and midwife. We also talk about writing outside of traditional MFA pathways, balancing historical plausibility with emotionally resonant characters, and what surprised her most while researching 14th-century Avignon.

Gratitude to Our Show Patrons: This week's episode is open to all listeners thanks to generous donations made through Buy Me a Coffee and your community memberships. If you’d like to keep the conversation going, you’re invited to join our Patreon Book Club chat on January 29 at 8 PM ET, where we’ll dive deeper into spoilers, themes, and reader reactions. Membership is $5 a month, or you can prepay for the year and save 10%.

In this fascinating conversation, we explore:

📚 Writing a big, ambitious debut: From outlining and pitching to finding an agent and selling the book, Elizabeth walks us through the long road to publication and what she learned along the way.

📚 Medicine, midwifery, and historical research: How Elizabeth’s medical background shaped Eleanore’s role as a healer, the realities of early medical practices, and the most astonishing details she uncovered while researching the period.

📚 Plague stories then and now: The eerie parallels between 1347 and the present day, why readers keep returning to historical plague narratives, and how Eleanore of Avignon sits in conversation with books like Hamnet.

📚 📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's companion list with 18 Unforgettable Midwife Books, perfect for readers who want to explore these themes further. Patrons will receive printable checklists for their next visit to the library!

Meet Elizabeth DeLozier

Elizabeth DeLozier holds a BA in Spanish literature, a BS in biological anthropology, and a doctorate in physical therapy. A practicing pelvic floor physical therapist, avid traveler, animal lover, and history nerd, she lives in Southern California with her husband, twin sons, and rescue dogs. Eleanore of Avignon is her debut novel, and her sophomore novel, The Whitechapel Full Moon Society, will be published in 2026.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the January Book Club 1/29 at 8 PM ET (Eleanore of Avignon)

NEW BOOK LIST: 18 Unforgettable Midwife Books

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier

abookolive

The Great Mortality by John Kelly

Station Eleven

A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman

Hamnet

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Taylor Swift - The End of an Era

The White Chapel Full Moon Society by Elizabeth DeLozier

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Elizabeth DeLozier on Instagram or her Website

The Best Books of 2025 Jan 09, 2026

We read a total of 443 books and are excited to share twenty-five of our favorite titles from our 2025 reading list. Explore these new releases alongside our favorite backlist books for your best reading year yet.

We invite you to browse our book lists featuring 25 of our favorites. Patrons will receive a printable checklist with today's book titles and some of our honorable mentions.

Mentioned in this episode:

Larry’s Top 25 Books of 2025 (Including Honorable Mentions)

Meet Our Upcoming Book Gang Guests (Winter Season Announcement)

The 2026 Book Club (12 Selections & How to Join)

Amy’s Top 25 Books of 2025 (FULL LIST)

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

How a Journey to the Arctic Shaped This Found-Family Story Dec 19, 2025

Head to the Arctic with Nathaniel Ian Miller and discover the true story that inspired his debut, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, for our final episode of 2025.

For our final episode of 2025, we’re bringing forward a beloved conversation from the Book Gang archives with debut novelist Nathaniel Ian Miller, discussing his magical winter read, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, and the enduring pull of a great winter story with found-family themes. This episode originally aired for patrons in 2023, and it felt like the perfect moment to share it more widely, along with some gentle reflections from this year, including YOUR best book club book of the year.

In this funny conversation, we discuss:

📚 Writing at the edge of the world: How Nathaniel’s participation in the Arctic Circle Expeditionary Program—partly born out of the very real cost barriers of research—became foundational to this charming book’s atmosphere and authenticity.
📚 The freedom of a “fictional memoir”: Why Sven’s story demanded a looser, more intimate form, how his character surprised Nathaniel as the novel evolved, and why this mid-thirties coming-of-age story feels as expansive as the frozen landscape itself.
📚 How real historical events anchored the characters and scenes in this story: From writing morally complex moments that challenged the author’s own convictions to rethinking the historical role of women in polar narratives, Nathaniel unpacks the layered choices that give Sven’s world its depth.

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's celebration of winter reads- 25 Impeccable Winter Books to Savor by the Firelight. Patrons will receive printable checklists for their next visit to the library!

Meet Nathaniel Ian Miller

Nathaniel Ian Miller is the author of the critically acclaimed debut novel The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and translated into five languages. A former journalist for newspapers across New Mexico, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Montana, he now lives with his family on a farm in Vermont. The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven and Red Dog Farm, his second novel, are both available on store shelves now.

Mentioned in this episode:

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 25 Impeccable Winter Books To Savor By the Firelight

2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)

Brick For Your Phone

Hamnet Movie Trailer

The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller

Mosquitoland by David Arnold

NYT Review

Sundays with Writers: Mosquitoland by David Arnold

London Seance Society by Sarah Penner

Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

The Birthday Boys by Dame Beryl Bainbridge

Expeditionary program at Arctic Circle

Salomon Andree

John Franklin’s Canadian expedition

A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter

Refiners Fire by Mark Helprin

Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan

Office Space Flair

Wanny Woldstad

Svalbard’s Daughters

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Nathaniel Ian Miller on Instagram or his Website

Join the December Book Club TONIGHT at 8 PM ET (James by Percival Everett)

Your 2026 TBR Jumpstart With Backlist Picks Dec 12, 2025

Get ahead of 2026’s biggest releases this year. We highlight ten must-read backlist books from authors with upcoming titles, so you have your best library day.

What could be better than a discussion on 2026’s biggest releases? We wanted to do something fun (and genuinely helpful) to help you plan next year's TBR. Today, Jessica Bearak is back, and she’s bringing her idea to pair readers with books we don’t want slipping through the cracks. We’ve gathered ten brilliant backlist titles from authors with major books arriving next year, so you can reserve your library holds, fill your Kindle, and feel delightfully ahead of the curve before celebrating their next book. Think of it as your literary pre-game for the year ahead.

In this fun conversation, we discuss:

📚 A literary pre-game you can actually use: Jessica and I kick things off with the ten major 2026 releases we’ve got our eyes on—so you can start plotting your reading year long before the hype machine starts spinning.
📚 Backlist gems to read while you wait: We pair each upcoming title with a backlist book you can grab right now at your library or favorite bookstore, giving you something delicious to dive into while you count down to release day.
📚What the buzzy lists missed: We close by chatting about the standout books we think deserved more end-of-year attention—because great reads don’t always make the roundups, and we’re here to fix that.

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's new book guide! 47 Fresh 2026 Book Releases to Reserve Now. Patrons will receive printable checklists for their next visit to the library!

Meet Jessica Bearak

Jessica is a lifelong book lover who embarked on her literary journey at three, immersing herself in childhood classics like “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “The Phantom Tollbooth.” Jessica actively participates in two in-person book clubs and regularly engages in many online discussions. She has been an invaluable member of the MomAdvice Book Club.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Today's Show Transcript

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 47 Fresh 2026 Book Releases to Reserve Now

Once and Again by Rebecca Serle

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

Friends Are For by Wade Rouse

Magic Season by Wade Rouse

A Day in the Life of a Book Publicist (Kathleen Carter Episode)

Off the Record by Sara Goodman-Confino

Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman-Confino

Score by Kennedy Ryan

Reel by Kennedy Ryan

The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives with Heart (Kennedy Ryan Episode)

Orson Welles Voodoo Macbeth

Dog Person by Camille Pagán

The Spectacular Life Lessons from Books About Road Trips with Colleen Oakley (Podcast with Colleen Oakley)

A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

Stunning Books About Bookstores (Book List)

Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagán

Meg Shaffer Interview (The Wishing Game)

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

How Braving a Literary Seminar Shaped The Last Story with Meg Shaffer (Interview with Meg Shaffer)

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

Cozy Fantasy Books to Lower Your Stress Levels (Book List)

Five by Ilona Bannister

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

When I Ran Away by Ilona Bannister

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline

A Piece of the World by Christine Baker Kline

35 Books About Twins That Double the Drama (Book List)

Christina’s World painting

Liberty Street by Heather Marshall

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall

The Jane Collective

All You Have To Do Is Call by Kerri Maher

Ask for Jane

The Janes

Eleanor of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier

With Love From Harlem by ReShonda Tate

The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate

Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect With Jessica on Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Join the 2026 Book Club

Meet the 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books Dec 01, 2025

Join the 2026 MomAdvice Book Club to explore 12 handpicked novels, enjoy lively author chats, and celebrate a year of stories that inspire and delight.

Get ready to kick off another unforgettable reading year with the 2026 MomAdvice Book Club. In this episode, I’m unveiling my twelve handpicked selections—an extraordinary lineup of novels that challenge perspective and remind us what it means to live bravely and wholeheartedly.

I read widely and intentionally all year so that every MomAdvice pick feels worthy of your time, your library holds, your gift lists, and your precious reading hours. Announcing the selections early means you can gather copies however is easiest for you. Shop the library, used shops, holiday gifting, or straight from your favorite indie bookshop this year.

To discover this year's selections, you can head to today's post, which includes all the details, including the recommended format, the reading mood of the novel, and pacing information. Each description also offers the accompanying reader experience for each book.

I've also uploaded a podcast that goes through each of these books for those of you who prefer an audio experience with some behind-the-scenes details. Please join me on this reading adventure!

This year, your participation in the book club directly supports the podcast and sustains a space where readers can connect deeply over stories that genuinely matter. Thank you for choosing this space to invest in. I never take it for granted!

Connect With Us:

Make a One-Time Donation to My Show (SO, SO GRATEFUL THIS YEAR!!)

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

How Marisa Kashino Landed the Deal for Best Offer Wins Nov 21, 2025

Marisa Kashino turns being new to publishing into a superpower, revealing her surprising journey from first draft to the darkly funny thriller, Best Offer Wins.

Being brand-new to publishing turned out to be this author's secret weapon in landing her book deal. This week on Book Gang, we’re stepping into the ruthless, dream-chasing world of real estate with Marisa Kashino, journalist and author of Best Offer Wins. She shares how the freedom from expectations fueled her thriller's creativity and story structure, how her query journey unfolded with unexpected serendipity, and why stepping into fiction opened doors she never imagined… including an adaptation already in the works.

In this heartwarming and hilarious conversation, we discuss:

📚 From Reporting to Satire – Marisa shares how years of covering bidding wars, desperate buyers, and high-stakes real estate inspired her darkly funny take on ambition. Writing as Margo allowed Marisa to channel humor, frustration, and sharp social commentary she could never express out loud through Margot's antics.
📚 Subtle Social Commentary – Margot's Asian American identity informs elements of this story, and Marisa shares personal experiences that have shaped these plot elements that informed Margo’s choices, her humor, and the unexpected ways readers may connect with her story.
📚 A Secret Project Turns Big – Marisa kept her novel under wraps until she secured an agent, and now it’s heading toward an adaptation with 20th TV, Hulu, and Greta Lee attached. She talks about the thrill of sharing this milestone, how her family reacted, and the joy of seeing a private creative project reach the world.

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's companion book list: 23 Dark Comedy Books That Embrace the Absurd. Patrons will receive printable checklists to take on their next visit to the library!

Meet Marisa Kashino

Marisa Kashino spent 17 years as a journalist, most recently at The Washington Post, and wrote long-form features and oversaw home design coverage at Washingtonian Magazine. She grew up near Seattle and earned her degree in journalism and political science from the University of Washington. Marisa lives in the DC area with her husband, two dogs, and two cats. Best Offer Wins is her first novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the November Book Club TONIGHT at 8 PM ET (Weyward by Emilia Hart)

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 23 Dark Comedy Books That Embrace The Absurd

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

The Writer’s Center

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

Beef

Austin Taylor - Notes on Infinity Podcast Interview

Lean In by Sheryl Sandburg

Greta Lee

Allegra Goodman - Isola Podcast Interview

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Marisa Kashino on Instagram

Emma Pattee’s ADHD Trick That Brought Tilt to Life Nov 14, 2025

Discover the writing hack that Emma Pattee uncovered with a creativity coach, which helped her debut novel, Tilt, transition from her Google Drive to publication.

Emma Pattee, climate journalist and fiction writer, joins the Book Gang podcast to discuss her heartpounding debut novel, Tilt. In Tilt, we follow a pregnant woman through a single, intense day as an earthquake hits Portland, where Pattee blends the chaos of the city with the intimate messiness of her marriage and motherhood journey.

In our virtual walk with Emma through Portland, we explore:

📚 How ADHD and journalism shaped her craft– Emma discusses how a creativity coach helped unlock a new writing system that helped her finally move a project off her Google Drive into a finished book. We discuss the heavy and rarely discussed weight of unfinished projects as creatives.

📚 Reporting meets fiction – As a climate journalist, Emma discusses her research-heavy novel that involved interviews with geologists, seismic engineers, and first responders, worked off real destruction maps and city-planning data, then translated it into the book we hold in our hands now.

📚 Survival, motherhood & climate anxiety intertwined – Tilt uses the impending "Big One" earthquake as a metaphor for Annie's journey to motherhood, where Emma discusses her stream-of-consciousness voice that keeps the reader inside one woman's daylong survival trek and how it intertwines with Emma's personal fears and discoveries.

📚 Bonus Book List – These 23 eco fiction books will have you looking at the world in a whole new way. Marvel at our remarkable connection to nature through this incredible stack. Patrons will receive a printable checklist to take on your next library trip.

Meet Emma Pattee

Emma Pattee is a climate journalist and fiction writer whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and more. In 2021, she coined the term "Climate Shadow" to describe an individual's potential impact on climate change. Her debut novel, Tilt, is a National Bestseller, NYT Editor's Choice, and recognized by NPR, Time, Vogue, and Bustle as one of the best books of the year. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the November Book Club 11/21 at 8 PM ET (Weyward by Emilia Hart)

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW BOOK LIST: 23 Eco Fiction Books You'll Love

NEW: 32-Page November Reading Guide & FULLY BOOKED Patron Show

Tilt by Emma Pattee

Hillary Rettig

Alison Larkin - Home of the American Circus Podcast Episode

Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann

The Truth About Portland’s Brick Schools Is Scarier Than Fiction

Dr. Katherine Hayhoe

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Emma Pattee on Instagram or her Website

How the Pagebound App Reinvents Social Reading Nov 07, 2025

Discover Pagebound, the social reading app by Lucy Zhao & Jennifer Dobak. Learn how to gamify your reading life from quests to forums in today's beginner chat.

Ever wish Goodreads had a heart or deeply desired a buddy read for every book in your book stack? It exists. This week, we're stepping inside Pagebound, the new social reading app built by readers for readers, with co-founders Lucy Zhao and Jennifer Dobak.

This week's "building block" podcast episode is designed to deepen your reading life and provide a behind-the-scenes look at tools you can use to enhance it. Discover how these two women built a no-AI, reader-first platform that's reimagining how we connect through stories online.

In this enlightening conversation, we discuss:

📚 The Origin Story: Learn how Lucy Zhao and Jennifer Dobak transformed their shared love of reading into a bold tech venture built from scratch. From late-night coding sessions to their first "scrappy" testers, they share what it really takes to launch a reader-first social platform in an industry long dominated by giants.
📚 A Human-Centered Platform: Learn how Pagebound's no-AI promise and book-by-book forum model create genuine connections instead of algorithmic noise. The founders explain why every title deserves its own conversation and how thoughtful design shaped the community from day one.
📚 Gamifying the Reading Life: Explore how Pagebound is transforming the way we engage with our books through clever, joy-filled features like reading quests and milestone interactions that encourage active community membership, bringing a sense of adventure back to your reading life.

Meet the Guests

Lucy Zhao grew up as a cheeky kid, always carrying a book. She studied creative writing and business at the University of Michigan and has spent the last decade leading tech startups and launching products. Her favorite authors include James McBride, Maggie Nelson, and Jonathan Franzen. She lives with her toy aussiedoodle, Libby, and loves ice-cold watermelon slices.

Jennifer Dobak studied Economics, French, and Italian at the University of Notre Dame before becoming a software engineer. When she's not coding, she's hanging out at her local indie bookstore. Her favorite authors include Lauren Groff, Mona Awad, and V.E. Schwab. She's a lifelong writer herself and is currently chasing her dream of finishing her own novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the November Book Club 11/21 at 8 PM ET (Weyward by Emilia Hart)

Buy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!

NEW: 32-Page November Reading Guide & FULLY BOOKED Patron Show

Pagebound

Follow Book Gang on Pagebound (let's be friends!)

Building Block Episode ICYMI: How the Storygraph App Can Enhance

Building Block Episode ICYMI: Get the Most Out of the Libby App (Podcast With the Libby Team)

Building Block Episode ICYMI: Improve Your Reading Focus & Memory (Hacks for Readers With ADHD)

Building Block Episode ICYMI: The Best Reading Hacks for Chronic Pain

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

Enchantra by Kaylie Smith

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

1984 by George Orwell

A Crash Course in Gothic Fiction with Erin Crosby Eckstine

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Pagebound on Instagram or their Website

A Crash Course in Gothic Fiction With Erin Crosby Eckstine Oct 31, 2025

Take a crash course in Gothic fiction with Junie author Erin Crosby Eckstine as we trace the genre's origins, evolution, and enduring allure.

Erin returns to Book Gang to share what surprised her most about debut life and what she's learned about balancing writing, book promotion, and an ever-growing TikTok community. Then, we dive deep into the eerie, elegant world of Gothic literature — where decaying mansions, stormy moors, and family secrets reflect the darkness within.

If you've ever wondered what makes a book Gothic, how the genre evolved from the 18th century to the present day, or how writers can utilize Gothic techniques to explore contemporary fears, this episode is your guided tour through the creeping shadows, courtesy of a former English teacher.

In this illuminating conversation, we discuss:

📚 Debut Surprises: What Erin learned from releasing Junie and how this political moment is impacting visibility, sales, and future book deals for BIPOC authors like her.
📚 A Gothic 101 Deep Dive: Erin breaks down the key elements of Gothic fiction, from its origins in 18th-century England to how modern writers are reimagining it today.
📚 Erin's Top 5 Gothic Fiction Recommendations: Erin shares her top five picks for your books that include modern Gothic fiction that continue to illuminate today's anxieties — about identity, race, power, and belonging — through atmosphere and suspense.

Meet Erin Crosby Eckstine

Erin Crosby Eckstine is an author of speculative historical fiction. Her debut novel, Junie, was selected for the Good Morning America book club. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Eckstine grew up between the South and Los Angeles before moving to New York City to attend Barnard College. She earned a master's in secondary English education from Stanford University and taught high school English for six years. She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and their cats.

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's TWO companion reading guides to continue your Gothic education: 11 Classic Gothic Novels That Started It All and 30 Modern Gothic Novels That Keep the Candle Burning. Patrons will receive printable checklists to take on their next visit to the library!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the November Book Club 11/21 at 8 PM ET (Weyward by Emilia Hart)

NEW BOOK LIST: 11 Classic Gothic Novels That Started It All

NEW BOOK LIST: 30 Modern Gothic Novels That Keep the Candle Burning

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

How Family History & Legacy Shaped Junie (Erin Crosby Eckstine's First Episode on Book Gang)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Odyssey by Homer

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

The Lives of the Brontës

To Walk Invisible The Brontë Sisters

Kanopy app

Shirley by Charlotte Brontë

Vilette by Charlotte Brontë

The Lilac People by Milo Todd

Brick

Beloved by Toni Morrison

William Faulkner

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Why Is The New "Wuthering Heights" Movie Stirring Controversy?

Saltburn

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Our Share of the Night by Mariana Enriquez

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Erin Crosby Eckstine on Instagram or their Website

Inside Bindery Books with CEO Matt Kaye Oct 24, 2025

Go behind the scenes with Bindery Books to discover their innovative publishing process, where tastemakers reshape how diverse books are made and sold.

In this week's episode, we sit down with Matt Kaye, cofounder and CEO of Bindery Books, to explore how his multifaceted career—from traditional publishing to Amazon to Patreon—shaped a bold new model for the book world.

Matt shares how the company identifies and empowers their carefully selected Tastemakers who curate, acquire, and co-develop books, offering listeners a rare, inside look at how these partnerships work from manuscript to marketing. Discover how the company tackles its small business challenges and the heartwarming pride that infuses many of its published works, including a project that's even captured the attention of celebrities.

In this enlightening conversation, we discuss:

📚 From Publishing to Patreon: Matt Kaye shares his unique publishing background and how he merged the best of all his past work experiences in tech and publishing to inspire Bindery's distinctive hybrid model that leverages influencers into the role of tastemakers.
📚 The Tastemaker Model: Discover how Bindery curates its diverse lineup of Tastemakers, their roles in involving fans in the publishing process, and the commissions available for each book sale.
📚 A New Author Experience: Matt discusses why writers are thriving under this partnership model, from fairer royalties to hands-on creative collaboration and nimble, audience-first publicity cycles.

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Instead of our usual companion list, I'm pointing you directly to Bindery Books this week as a thank you for their participation on today's show! Browse their catalog of offerings and meet the incredible tastemakers shaping each story.

Meet Matt Kaye

Matt started his career as a book marketer in publishing (Avalon, Wiley, FSG). After earning a Columbia Business School MBA, he joined the Amazon Books team, where he held several tech roles, including VP of Growth at the seed-stage startup Inkshares, Head of Growth and Engagement at Trulia, and, most recently, Head of Product, Design, and Research at Patreon. Matt now serves as cofounder and CEO of Bindery Books.

Mentioned in this episode:

How the Storygraph App Can Enhance Your Reading Life (Podcast With the CEO)

Get the Most Out of the Libby App (Podcast With the Libby Team)

Join the October Book Club TONIGHT at 8 PM ET (Diavola by Jennifer Thorne)

Bindery Books

Holly Kennedy - The Sideways Life of Denny Vos episode

The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy

Audiobrary

The Unmapping by Denise S. Robbins

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

Bindery's Pitchfest

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J Munden

Meg's Tearoom

Deston Munden

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Bindery Books on Instagram or their Website

How Olivia Muenter Went From "Recovering Influencer" to Bestseller Oct 17, 2025

Debut novelist Olivia Muenter joins Book Gang to discuss her hit debut, Such a Bad Influence, and the dark side of online fame in her real and imagined worlds.

What happens when your child becomes famous? In Such a Bad Influence, Olivia Muenter pulls back the curtain on the innocent early days of a fictional family's online moment that went viral, to later reveal the insidious nature of the influencer era when fame and fortune find them.

A self-described "recovering influencer," Olivia shares how her debut became a sharp, emotional page-turner and the ways her work as an influencer tied into her more complicated truths in this mixed media thriller.

In this revealing conversation, we discuss:

📚 Unlearning the Influencer Mindset – Olivia shares what it really means to be a "recovering influencer," the habits that were hardest to break, and how her social media past shaped her storytelling voice.

📚 Choosing an Independent Path with Quirk Books – Olivia shares why partnering with a boutique publisher was the right fit for her debut, from the creative freedom it offered to the close-knit collaboration that helped Such a Bad Influence find its perfect audience.

📚 The Hidden Cost of Kid Influencing – Olivia discusses the unsettling realities of children growing up online to create family content and explores how she used her unsent newsletters to craft a mixed media experience for readers, illustrating the struggles long after the cameras stop rolling.

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's fun companion book, 18 influencer books that are as unputdownable as your favorite feed. Patrons will also receive today's printable checklist to take on their next visit to the library.

Meet Olivia Muenter

Olivia Muenter is a writer, reader, and the co-host of the Bad on Paper podcast. Her first novel, Such A Bad Influence was an instant USA Today Best Seller. Her second novel, Little One, will be published in 2026.

A former fashion & beauty editor and freelance writer, Olivia's work has been published in Glamour, Byrdie, Bustle, Brides, Health.com, Philadelphia Magazine, and more. You can find her most personal writing via her weekly newsletter, where she shares about her life, her work, and everything in between.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the October Book Club on 10/24 at 8 PM ET (Diavola by Jennifer Thorne)

NEW BOOK LIST: 18 Page-Turning Influencer Books

Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter

Bad On Paper Podcast

Little One by Olivia Muenter

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

How Shark Heart Transformed Emily Habeck and Her Readers

Bad Influence

Improve Your Reading Memory and Focus

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Olivia Muenter on Instagram or her Website

How Fanfic Led Ashley Jordan to a Reese's LitUp Fellowship Oct 10, 2025

Author Ashley Jordan joins Book Gang to share her LitUp Fellowship journey to launch her debut, Once Upon a Time in Dollywood, and how fanfiction paved her path.

Ashley Jordan, a Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow, joins us this week to share the story behind her sparkling debut Once Upon a Time in Dollywood—a romance that pairs laugh-out-loud humor with deeply emotional storytelling.

In this light conversation, we discuss:

📚 From Fanfic to Fellowship – Ashley reflects on how writing The Walking Dead fanfiction taught her the building blocks of writing and how that experience led her to being named a Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow, complete with her dream mentorship and a writer's retreat that transformed her creative process.

📚 Rewriting the Narrative for Black Women – Through her protagonist Eve, a playwright determined to tell Black women's stories that aren't defined by pain, Ashley explores how joy, ambition, and love can coexist with realism. We discuss why expanding the lens on representation in romance matters now more than ever.

📚 Dollywood, Therapy, and the Soft Boyfriend We Deserve – Ashley shares how setting the story in Dollywood allowed her to capture the magic of Southern charm, how she approached writing therapy with nuance and heart, and why she wanted Jamie—a self-described "cinnamon roll" love interest—to reflect a gentler kind of masculinity in today's romance landscape.

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's juicy companion book list filled with the best books about theater to step behind the curtain with these compelling stories of complex lives, both on and off the stage. Patrons will also receive today's printable checklist to take on their next visit to the library.

Meet Ashley Jordan

Ashley Jordan is a millennial from Atlanta by way of Brooklyn. She attended Spelman College, earning a degree in Psychology and a lifelong appreciation for women's stories. By day, she works in public health, and by night, she's a devoted writer—ever since penning her first short story in second grade.

When Ashley isn't writing or working, she's likely at a Beyoncé concert, rewatching Mad Men, or passionately debating basketball. In 2023, she became a Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow, an experience that helped shape her journey to publishing Once Upon a Time in Dollywood.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the October Book Club on 10/24 at 8 PM ET (Diavola by Jennifer Thorne)

NEW BOOK LIST: 22 Incredible Books About Theater

Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan

Lemonade

Celebrating Only One-Bed Moments in Romance (Sarah Adler Podcast)

Tilt by Emma Pattee

The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives with Heart

Emily Henry

Regina Black

August Lane by Regina Black

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Ashley Jordan on Instagram or her Website

Unmasking Hysteria in The Mad Wife with Author Meagan Church Oct 03, 2025

Author Meagan Church unpacks the hidden lives of women in her chilling novel, The Mad Wife, as we explore the history of hysteria in women's health diagnoses.

If you loved Meagan Church’s historical fiction, you’ll be captivated by the bold turn she takes in The Mad Wife, her third novel. Rooted in the untold medical stories of women’s lives, this book lulls readers into the familiar rhythms of mid-century domesticity, before flipping the script with a shocking plot twist.

In our revealing conversation, we explore:

Building a Vivid 1950s World – From S&H stamps to molded salads, how Meagan nailed the texture of the era, weaving ordinary domestic details into a setting that feels both authentic and unsettling.
From History to Suspense – Why Meagan pivoted from a traditional historical fiction lens in her earlier novels to the creeping tension of domestic suspense, and how she made the genre shift feel authentic to her writing process. We discuss the bravery required for this project and how she felt haunted, both in real life and on the page, as she told Lulu's story.
The Medical History of “Hysteria” – What her chilling research revealed about diagnoses like hysteria, prescriptions like Miltown, and procedures like lobotomy and ECT that shaped women’s lives in disturbing ways.

📚 As a bonus for listeners, don’t miss this week’s companion list: Books With Good Plot Twists That Will Make Your Jaw Drop. Patrons will also receive today’s printable checklist to take on their next visit to the library.

Meet Meagan Church

Meagan Church is the Southern indie bestselling author of The Girls We Sent Away, The Last Carolina Girl , and The Mad Wife, this month's Barnes & Noble Book fiction pick. She writes to tell grounded stories that explore the complexity of human nature. Her historical fiction chronicles the plight and fight of unheard voices of the past. After receiving a B.A. in English from Indiana University, Meagan built a career as a storyteller and freelance writer for brands, blogs, and organizations. She is an adjunct professor for Drexel University’s MFA in Creative Writing program, helping authors tell their own stories through editing, coaching, and workshops. A Midwesterner by birth, she now lives in North Carolina with her high school sweetheart, three children, and a plethora of pets.

Mentioned in this episode:

UPDATED BOOK LIST: Books With Good Plot Twists

Join the October Book Club on 10/24 at 8 PM ET (Diavola by Jennifer Thorne)

The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church

The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church

The Mad Wife by Meagan Church

The Best Book Club Books to Spark Conversation

Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan

On Writing by Stephen King

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild

Donut Dollies of Vietnam

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities

Megan’s Jello Instagram

How to Make Glow in the Dark JELL-O

Miltown

Mother’s Little Helper

Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Terah Shelton Harris

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation in any amount- I am grateful!)

Connect with Meagan Church on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

This Physician Shares Her Indie Publishing Journey Sep 26, 2025

Curious about indie publishing? Physician Paria Hassouri shares her debut journey to publish Harvesting Rosewater, centering a woman's midlife awakening.

If you’ve ever been interested in the independent publishing process, you’re not alone. Today’s revealing conversation with Paria Hassouri, a pediatrician, whose debut, Harvesting Rosewater, recently hit bookstores, takes readers inside her remarkable publishing process. Discover how Paria balances medicine and storytelling in today's under-the-radar debut feature, which centers on a physician's midlife awakening that I guarantee you will not be able to put down.

In our illuminating conversation, we explore:

Independent Publishing Adventures- Paria opens up about her unique indie publishing path, sharing how she navigated editing, securing book blurbs, and the creative freedom that comes with going her own way—plus the surprises that made the process both challenging and rewarding.
Uncovering Autofiction Elements From Paria's Life- Drawing on her own childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, Paria shares personal memories and reflections from this challenging period in her young life in her story. She shares how blending real-life experiences with fiction has allowed her to explore her own identity, belonging, and what she hopes readers will take away from her book.
The Women's Life Freedom Movement- We explore how themes of women’s rights and resistance shaped this story, offering readers deeper insight into lives under restrictive systems and the tragedy that sparked the movement.

📚 As a bonus for listeners, don't miss this week's companion list: Compelling Books About Doctors Every Reader Should Read. Explore 24 novels on practicing medicine, from historical fiction to romance - there is a little something for every kind of reader. Patrons will also receive today's printable checklist to bring on their next visit to the library.

Meet Paria Hassouri

Paria Hassouri is an author and pediatrician whose essays have appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Huffington Post. Her memoir, Found in Transition: A Mother's Evolution During Her Child's Gender Change, was published in 2020. She has shared stories on stage with Expressing Motherhood, taught writing and advocacy classes at UCLA, and been featured widely for her work. A proud Iranian-American and mother of three, she lives in Los Angeles, where she continues to provide gender-affirming care for trans and gender-diverse youth.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the September Book Club Chat TONIGHT (Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood)

NEW BOOK LIST: 24 Compelling Books About Doctors Every Reader Should Read

Harvesting Rosewater by Paria Hassouri

Found in Transition by Paria Hassouri

Slanting Towards the Sea bu Lidija Hilje

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

Penitence by Kristin Koval

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

All Fours by Miranda July

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

What Could Be Saved by Liese O’Halloran Schwarz

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Paria Hassouri on Instagram, TikTok, or her Website

Join the September Book Club Chat (Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood)

This Lambda Finalist Novel Will Break Your Heart Sep 19, 2025

In Anyone's Ghost, August Thompson captures the ache of growing up while growing as a writer after his hard-won pursuit of the MFA program at NYU.

How do you write a coming-of-age story that's both deeply vulnerable and slyly funny, all while resisting clichés about queerness and masculinity? August Thompson joins me to talk about his debut novel, Anyone's Ghost, a Lambda finalist and one of my favorite under-the-radar gems.

From his MFA experience at NYU to navigating long COVID while finishing the book, Thompson reflects on the highs and lows of becoming a first-time author and the vulnerable process of rejection. He also shares how humor, bisexuality, and memory shape his storytelling, which major literary prizes have now recognized with adoration.

In our funny conversation, August and I discussed:

How Art Helped Form the Bones of August's Story – August shares the books, films, and music that inspired his book, which even brought in the lead singer from The National for a book signing moment of his dreams at The Strand.
Mining Adolescence for Humor– The role of humor was as imperative as Thompson's love story, and why he wanted to balance this story with this unexpected levity amidst the yearning.
The Fresh Perspective on Sexuality For Readers – Thompson discusses his approach to writing about bisexuality and the narratives regarding male bisexuality that he still wishes to see in publishing, while celebrating being longlisted for a Lambda Literary Award.

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: As a bonus for listeners, don't miss this week's companion list: Books About Music That Hit All the Right Notes. Explore 41 novels and memoirs that celebrate musicians, bands, songwriting, and life behind the scenes. Patrons will also receive today's printable checklist to bring on their next library day.

Meet August Thompson

August Thompson is from the middle of nowhere, New Hampshire, and has lived in Los Angeles, NYC, Berlin, and Madrid. His debut novel, Anyone's Ghost, was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award, longlisted for the Center For Fiction Debut Novel Prize, and named a best book of the year by Amazon, Vogue, and Elle. His writing has appeared in The Guardian, The New York Times Magazine, and beyond.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Today's Show Transcript

NEW BOOK LIST: 41 Books About Music That Hit the Right Notes

Anyone's Ghost by August Thompson

Anyone's Ghost by The National

Strand Books

Sad Dad Book Club

This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process (Podcast Interview with August Thompson's Paperback Book Cover Designer)

Lillian Vernon Writers House

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Call Me By Your Name by André Acimen

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Chris Bram

Franny and Zooey by JD Salinger

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with August Thompson on Instagram or His Website

How Lake Union Helped Shape The Sideways Life of Denny Voss Sep 12, 2025

In The Sideways Life of Denny Voss, Holly Kennedy brings humor & heart to a neurodivergent hero, sharing how Lake Union Publishing shaped her journey.

What happens when good intentions collide with messy realities? In The Sideways Life of Denny Voss, Holly Kennedy introduces us to Denny, an unforgettable, neurodivergent character whose big heart and distinct voice make him a narrator you'll want to follow anywhere… even into a goose-napping, an accidental bank robbery, and now a murder trial.

In this conversation, Holly and I talk about the long road it took to trust her voice enough to bring Denny's story into the world, the challenges of writing authentically from a neurodivergent perspective, and the unique publishing journey she's experienced with Lake Union.

And yes, we dig into how timely themes like gun violence filter through Denny's television obsessions and what it means to write a novel that feels both tender and topical today.

In our warm conversation, Holly and I discussed:

📚 Creating Denny's Voice – Why stepping into first person unlocked the looping, offbeat, parenthetical style that makes Denny on a page so unforgettable.

📚 Publishing with Lake Union – Holly offers the most fascinating details on the unexpected perks of working with Amazon's literary imprint and how their editorial/marketing approach shaped her novel's success. From focus groups to algorithm pivots, she candidly shares why this was the publishing house for her book.

📚 Writing Through Timely Themes – How Denny's fixation on TV gun violence mirrors today's anxieties, and why Kennedy leaned into that reality even though it made it difficult to find a publishing house for her novel.

📚 FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, I'm sharing 51 funny books to add levity and laughter to your stacks because, in light of the headlines, we all need a little more joy in this burning world. Patrons can also grab the printable checklist of all 52 titles for their next library day as a thank-you for your support.

Meet Holly Kennedy

Born and raised in Canada, Holly Kennedy currently lives near the Rocky Mountains in Alberta with her family and their Newfoundland dog, Wallace. She is the author of four novels, and her books have been translated into multiple languages. When she's not writing, you'll typically find her reading, spending time with family, or indulging her not-so-secret obsession: watching true crime TV shows like Dateline. To learn more, visit her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the September Book Club Chat (Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood)

NEW BOOK LIST: 51 Funny Books to Read Because We Need Them More Than Ever

The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy

Logan Center

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Holly Kennedy on Instagram or her Website

How Aftertaste Lands the Genre-Bending Magic Sep 05, 2025

In her dazzling debut novel Aftertaste, Daria Lavelle takes us on a sensory journey where food, grief, & romance intertwine in this inventive ghost story.

What if you could taste the ghosts of the people you've lost? In this intimate conversation, Daria shares how her Ukrainian heritage, her childhood food memories, and her love of genre-bending storytelling all shaped one of the most unique novels of the year.

You'll love the reveals of how this story took on surprising symbolism, the genre challenges of marketing such a unique book, and the reader stories that have stayed with her long after her tour ended.

📚 FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: Today, we celebrate books about food with this new list of 33 books that aren't just about what's on the plate, but more about the bigger stories simmering behind every meal.

In our warm conversation, Daria and I discussed:

Identifying The Taste of Ghosts– How she discovered the idea of "clairgustance," the psychic ability to taste the favorite foods of the dead, and transformed it into a fully fleshed-out magic system for her story.
Weaving In Her Cultural Identity– From the "stinky lunchbox" moments of childhood to the joy and shame often tied to food in immigrant families, Daria shares how her own memories informed the emotional heartbeat of Aftertaste.
Cinematic Writing & What's Next– With Sony Pictures developing Aftertaste for film, Daria talks about writing with cinematic flair and the thrill of seeing her work move to the screen.

Meet Daria Lavelle

Daria Lavelle is an American fiction writer. Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and raised in the New York metro area, her work explores themes of identity and belonging through magic and the uncanny. Her short stories have appeared in The Deadlands, Dread Machine, and elsewhere, and she holds degrees in writing from Princeton University and Sarah Lawrence College. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, children, and goldendoodle, all of whom love a great meal almost as much as she does.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the September Book Club Chat (Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood)

NEW BOOK LIST: 33 Incredible Books About Food

NEW BOOK LIST: 41 Immersive Speculative Fiction Books

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Fantasmagoriana

The Anatomy of Story by John Truby

Glee Mashups

Chocolate Nut from Le Jules Verne

I Grew Up Ashamed of My Immigrant Parents' Food. Now I'm Teaching My Kids Lunch Room Tolerance

What Dreams May Come

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Daria Lavelle on Instagram or her Website

The Rise of the Airport Novels With Tellthebeees Aug 29, 2025

TikTok creator and pop-cultural sleuth Josh Lora (TellTheBeees) helps us build the ultimate Airport Novels book list to carry you through your next flight.

What makes a perfect book to snag in the airport bookstore? In this fun episode, TikTok creator and pop-cultural sleuth Josh Lora (TellTheBeees) helps us create the perfect book list to get you through delayed flights, endless terminals, and jet-lagged landings with an unputdownable book.

This conversation marks the final installment in the All-Star Book Influencer Series, which has brought together incredible voices in the literary community. I hope you have enjoyed these conversations with our guests, including podcasters, bookstagrammers, and BookTubers, who brought fresh passion and unique perspectives to the page.

As a TikTok creator turned sociological book commentator, Josh offers fresh takes on what we read, and why we pick certain books up in unexpected places—like airport bookstores!

In our fun conversation, we discuss:

Inside the TellTheBeees TikTok Account: Josh shares how TellTheBeees came to life, what it means to cover pop culture through a sociological lens, and how he spots trends quickly enough to keep TikTok buzzing.
Defining the Airport Novel: Together, we unpack what makes a book "airport friendly," whether that's a punchy plot, instant engagement, or that oh-so-rare "I-can't-put-this-down" quality.
The Changing Reputation of Airport Picks: Gone are the days of dull formula fiction. Josh argues that the airport rack is now a place for surprising, thoughtful, and truly compelling reads. Snag his list of best recommendations for your next flight from today's bestsellers!

Meet Josh Lora

Josh Lora, known online as TellTheBees, is a TikTok creator and cultural critic who explores the intersection of books, sociology, and media. His videos dissect everything from reality TV trends to bookish themes through a thoughtful, sociological lens. He’s built a vibrant audience by pairing sharp cultural observations with book recommendations that feel both fun and deeply insightful.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the August Book Club Chat TONIGHT (The Wedding People)

RESERVE OUR FALL GUEST'S BOOKS NOW

Books About Alternative Realities or Parallel Lives You Will Love

Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Fleishman Is in Trouble

The Age of Adeline

Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley

Woman of the Hour by Claire Polders

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

Triangle of Sadness

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

The Maid by Nita Prose

Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper

The Group by Mary McCarthy

Saints For All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan

Liars by Sarah Manguso

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Self Care by Leigh Stein

Severance by Ling Ma

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

The Unseen World by Liz Moore

Heft by Liz Moore

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Real Americans by Rachel Khong

Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Josh Lora on Substack, TikTok, or Instagram

These Memorable Older Characters Wowed Us Aug 22, 2025

Join Cindy from Thoughts from a Page as we explore unforgettable books featuring older characters. These are her top five picks that deserve space on your TBR.

The All‑Star Book Influencer Series is back, and I can't wait to introduce

you to more incredible voices in the literary community. Our guests include podcasters, bookstagrammers, and BookTubers who bring fresh passion and unique perspectives to the page.

Cindy has a pulse on what's next in the publishing world and brings her seasoned perspective on how literature is embracing life beyond midlife. As one of those trusted guides, she offers not only spot-on recommendations but also the tools to discover books you might otherwise miss.

In this cozy conversation, Cindy and I discuss:

How to Discover What's Next in Books – Cindy shares her strategies for staying ahead of the curve, spotting trends, and helping readers discover gems beyond the bestseller lists.
Why Older Characters Matter – We talk about the joys of reading characters in later stages of life, how these stories expand our empathy, and what publishing is (and isn't) getting right in portraying aging.
Cindy's Top Five Picks with Older Characters – From cozy mysteries to poignant literary fiction, Cindy highlights unforgettable stories that prove life experience makes for some of the most compelling characters on the page.

📚 FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: Today, we celebrate senior characters with this new list of 52 books with older protagonists that prove that fresh adventures are, in fact, ageless endeavors. Binge these new releases and backlist gems, including today's recommendations from Cindy!

Meet Cindy Burnett

Cindy Burnett is the host of the Thoughts from a Page podcast where she chats with guests about the books she loves and recommends. Episodes include author interviews and conversations with publishing insiders about the latest and greatest books. An avid reader and reviewer, Cindy also crafts Winter and Summer Reading Guides, writes two book columns for The Buzz Magazines in Houston, and promotes books across social media. When she isn't reading, Cindy loves attending the theatre, visiting National Parks, and traveling.

Mentioned in this episode:

Meet Our September Author Guests on Amy's IG

Join the August Book Club Chat 08/29 (The Wedding People)

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 52 Books With Older Protagonists

BONUS BOOK LIST: 40 Books About Midlife to Add to Your Stack (in case you missed it!)

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab

Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

The Best One Bed Trope Books For Romance Lovers

The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 years old by Hendrik Groen

The Big Finish by Brooke Fossey

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

Sundays With Writers: The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood

Fountain Bookstore

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Cindy on Instagram or her Website

The Best Midlife Books to Inspire Your Next Chapter Aug 15, 2025

There is nothing more transformative than midlife stories, and Renee from It's Book Talk & More joins me to explore the books that reshape how we see this stage.

The All‑Star Book Influencer Series is back, and I can't wait to introduce you to more incredible voices in the literary community. Our guests include podcasters, bookstagrammers, and BookTubers who bring fresh passion and unique perspectives to the page.

Renee has been a trusted voice in the bookish space for years, first co-hosting Book Talk Etc. and now curating her popular Substack newsletter, It's Book Talk & More.

Today, she shares what inspired her move to this new platform, how her reading life has evolved, and why midlife books are resonating with her and her audience more than ever.

In this rich and relatable conversation, Renee and I discuss:

Inside It's Book Talk & More – Renee shares the origin story of her Substack and the creative freedom she's found since transitioning from podcasting. Learn how her approach to reading and reviewing has shifted in this new format.
Why Midlife Stories Matter – We talk about the transformative nature of midlife for women, the stereotypes that need dismantling, and the novels that reflect the realities of reinvention and joy from this season.
Renee's Favorite Midlife Reads – Discover the five midlife books that have offered her guidance, inspiration, and a fresh perspective on this stage of life.

📚 FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 40 Best Books About Midlife, including shiny new releases, buzzy upcoming titles, and backlist favorites that prove this stage of life is just getting started from a midlife reader.

Meet Renee

Renee is the creator and writer behind It's Book Talk & More, a Substack newsletter where she shares thoughtful book reviews, curated recommendations, and personal reflections on reading life. Formerly the co-host of the Book Talk Etc. Podcast, Renee brings a seasoned perspective to the literary conversation, with a special passion for stories that center women in midlife.

Mentioned in this episode:

Meet Our September Author Guests on Amy's IG

Join the August Book Club Chat 08/29 (The Wedding People)

BONUS BOOK LIST: 40 Books About Midlife to Add to Your Stack

Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaquad

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

Leaving by Roxanna Robinson

A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen

Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

Don’t Be a Stranger by Susan Minot

One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

The Elements by John Boyne

A History of Loneliness by John Boyne

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

Private Rites by Julie Armfield

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Renee on Instagram or her Substack

Mind-Bending Thrillers You Must Read Now Aug 08, 2025

Dive into a stack of mind‑bending thrillers with Kate from Bookwild. Discover her top 5 speculative fiction picks in today's All-Star Book Influencer series.

Today, we are discussing mind-bending thrillers and who better to guide us than Kate from Bookwild, a podcast dedicated entirely to the art of the twist? In this week's conversation, we explore what makes a thriller truly mind-bending, the tropes that never get old, and the books that broke our brains in the best way.

In this thrilling conversation, Kate and I discuss:

Inside the Bookwild Podcast – Kate shares the origin story of her show and how it became a space to celebrate everything from domestic suspense to speculative thrillers. Learn how she curates episodes that keep listeners hooked week after week.

Tropes, Trends & Upcoming Obsessions – From the thriller tropes that never fail her to the themes she's hoping will take over the suspense landscape, Kate gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what keeps her reading.

5 Mind-Bending Thrillers Kate Can't Stop Thinking About – Discover Kate's top picks that push the boundaries of the genre with jaw-dropping twists and speculative elements. She shares why these reads stand out in a sea of thrillers and why they deserve a spot on your TBR.

📚 FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 41 Speculative Fiction Books (I WENT CRAZY ON THIS ASSIGNMENT) that include upcoming releases, shiny new releases, and backlist books that every reader will love.

Meet Kate Hergott

Kate Hergott is the host of Bookwild, a fiction podcast launched by the Bookwild Collective. On Tuesdays, she conducts compelling interviews with authors about their books and creative processes. Fridays bring vibrant chats with bookstagrammers and BookTubers, exploring bookish trends, mood reads, and mutual obsessions.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the August Book Club Chat 08/29 (The Wedding People)

BONUS BOOK LIST: 41 Immersive Speculative Fiction Books to Read Now

Amy on the Bookwild Podcast

Rust and Stardust by T. Greenwood

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn

A Fatal Intrusion by Isabella Maldonado and Jeffrey Deaver.

Trust Issues by Elizabeth McCullough Keenan & Greg Wands

The Close-Up by Pip Drysdale

Cross My Heart by Megan Collins

Return to Me

The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni

Oddity

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

Swiped by L.M. Chilton

Assassin's Anonymous by Rob Hart

Crafting a Killer Redemption Story with Heart

Digital Dating Turns Deadly in This Debut Murder Mystery

The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Books About Parallel Universes and the Multiverse to Read Now

Time Loop Books for Readers Who Love Loops

Books About Alternate Realities or Parallel Lives You Will Love

The Best Time Travel Books to Escape Real Life

The Best Time Travel TV Shows and Movies

The Mechanics of Memory by Audrey Lee

The Man Who Saw Seconds by Alexander Boldizar

Vox by Christina Dalcher

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Alexander Boldizar on Bookwild podcast

The Prediction by Faith Gardner

Black Mirror

If You Can Hear This by Faith Gardner

The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart

WandaVision

Dark Space by Rob Hart & Alex Segura

The Medusa Protocol by Rob Hart

Manifest

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Kate Hergott on Instagram or her Website

When a Journalist Outgrows the Word Count Jul 25, 2025

Journalist Honor Jones discusses her debut novel, Sleep, which explores the #MeToo movement from childhood to the newsroom through a unique fictional lens.

Honor Jones's debut novel, Sleep, opens in the heat of a seemingly idyllic summer childhood, where ten-year-old Margaret navigates unspoken secrets within her home. But as the years unfold, the story quietly traces how early moments of confusion ripple forward into Margaret's adult life, particularly as she covers the Weinstein trial as a journalist. With a clear-eyed and unsettling voice, Sleep becomes a meditation on what women bury, what they minimize, and what begins to surface when the cultural tide shifts.

In this intriguing conversation, Honor and I discuss:

How journalism shaped her approach to fiction: Honor reflects on the transition from shaping others' stories to crafting her own and how editing longform narratives influenced her writing style.
Writing a woman who can believe others but not herself: Margaret is a woman who has built a career amplifying the voices of survivors, yet has never fully named her own story. Honor explores how Margaret reconciles the gap between public belief and private suppression, and how the novel plays with what we notice versus what we choose not to see.
Portraying the unspoken conversations around #MeToo: From the charged stillness of newsroom dynamics to a dinner party scene, Honor unpacks how people speak around harm instead of through it. We explore her decision to include moments of discomfort and how those honest tensions reflect the real ways people deal with trauma.

📚 FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 36 Me Too Books that showcase the struggles of women throughout history. From young adult to memoir to literary fiction- this week's book list illuminates.

Meet Honor Jones

Honor Jones is a writer and editor who has worked at The Atlantic, The New York Times, and The New Republic. Her writing has also appeared in The Cut and The New Yorker. Sleep is her debut novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Browse the 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide (with ads) or download the 48-page reading guide ($7) to support our show. If you are a show patron, please check your inbox for your copy as part of your member benefits. Thank you for supporting my small business!

Join the July Book Club Chat TONIGHT (Husbands & Lovers)

BONUS BOOK LIST: 36 Me Too Books

Sleep by Honor Jones

Sarah Harman - All the Other Mothers Hate Me Podcast Interview

All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harmon

Claire Hoffman - Sister, Sinner Podcast Interview

Sister, Sinner by Clare Hoffman

Jenisha from Kentucky

How I Demolished My Life

Sundays with Writers: Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg

Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg

Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Honor Jones on Instagram or her Website

Why Finding Grace Is the Plot-Twist Novel of the Summer Jul 18, 2025

Holy plot twist! Loretta Rothschild shares her writing process for her buzzy debut, Finding Grace, where the opening sequence stuns in this spoiler-free chat.

In today's Book Gang episode, debut author Loretta Rothschild discusses Finding Grace, a domestic drama that cracks wide open into something far more unexpected. This powerful novel explores fertility, family bonds, and the long echo of grief, told through a voice you won't see coming.

In this heart-to-heart conversation, Loretta and I discuss her five-year journey to publication, the art of crafting structure and tension, and how one tragic twist completely reshaped her story. If you're a writer, you'll find so much to take away from her thoughtful process—and if you're a reader, well, prepare to be surprised.

In this warm conversation, Loretta and I discuss:

How an analog writer plots a good story: Loretta walks us through her five-year process of developing Finding Grace, from longhand notebooks to deeply layered outlines. She explains how structure helped her navigate an emotionally complex storyline and how a strong framework gave her characters space to breathe.
Why the first chapter matters more than ever: In a world driven by short attention spans and BookTok buzz, Loretta shares how she crafted a bold opening that immediately grabs the reader and how that choice reshaped the entire novel's trajectory.
What happens behind the curtain: From working with her agent to the moment she saw her book cover for the first time, Loretta gives a candid look at the publishing process, the emotional rollercoaster of debut life, and how readers are helping Finding Grace find its place.

FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: Love plot twists? You'll want our free guide to 34 books with good plot twists filled with shocking reveals and clever misdirections.

Meet Loretta Rothschild

Loretta Rothschild is originally from London and currently splits her time between the UK and Italy. She lives with her husband, Nat, their young son, and their beloved dogs. Finding Grace is her debut novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the July Book Club Chat (Husbands & Lovers)

BONUS BOOK LIST: 34 Books With Good Plot Twists

Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild

Cecile Davidovici

Lidija Hilje-Slanting Towards the Sea (Podcast Interview)

Random Harvest

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Loretta on Instagram or her Website

This Author Walked Away from Law—and Won Big Jul 11, 2025

Lidija Hilje shares how her debut novel, Slanting Towards the Sea, and her own journey is shaped by second chances and the courage it required to begin again.

Lidija Hilje brings a rare and powerful perspective to her fiction. After a decade working in Croatian courts, she left the legal field to write in English as her second language and to coach other writers through their own stories. We discuss how that radical life change shaped both her novel and her coaching philosophy.

In today's Book Gang episode, Lidija joins me for a profoundly moving and insightful conversation about her first novel, Slanting Towards the Sea. In this week's warm and expansive episode, we discuss:

How writing in a second language and through a bicultural lens shaped the emotional and narrative depth of Slanting Towards the Sea
The novel's quiet but powerful thread on broken governmental systems, and how we see the differences and parallels between our American and Croatian experiences
How Lidija's former legal career informs her current work as a book coach, and how she helps authors clarify and complete the stories they feel called to tell

BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, you can set sail with these 34 sea books. From shipwreck survival stories to coastal mysteries, oceanic fantasies, and sweeping seaside romances- this book list has a little something for everyone!

Meet Lidija Hilje

Lidija Hilje is a Croatian writer and certified book coach. After earning a law degree, she spent a decade practicing law in Croatian courts before transitioning to book coaching, and writing in English as her second language. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times and other outlets. She lives in Zadar, Croatia, with her husband and two daughters. SLANTING TOWARDS THE SEA is her first novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the July Book Club Chat (Husbands & Lovers)

BONUS BOOK LIST: 34 Sea Books (upcoming titles, new releases, and backlist selections to browse)

Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje

The Maid on Netflix

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Lidija Hilje on Instagram or her Website

A Professor Turns Sleuth in This Sharp Academic Mystery Jul 04, 2025

Zoe Wallbrook shares how her debut mystery, History Lessons, blends academia, amateur sleuthing, and suspense in this clever, twisty campus mystery with heart.

In today's special July 4th Book Gang episode, author Zoe B. Wallbrook joins me for a smart and surprising conversation about her dazzling debut, History Lessons. This mystery novel brings the classroom to the crime scene.

When a brilliant but insufferable colleague is murdered, Professor Daphne Ouverture's quiet academic life gives way to a dangerous investigation filled with buried secrets, institutional reckonings, and revolutionary echoes.

In the spirit of the assignment, this July 4th, we're turning the spotlight on liberty—not just American, but French too. In this week's savvy conversation, Zoe and I discuss:

How Daphne's specialty—Black families in 18th-century France—reframes historical narratives and why fiction can be a powerful tool for expanding the lens of academic research.
What it takes to write a compelling mystery with real-world research at its core—and how Zoe's Pitch Wars experience and academic life shaped the story.
Surprising intersections between the American and French Revolutions—and what Daphne might rant about if she were giving a July 4th lecture on liberty and institutional power.

BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, I'm sharing 41 Unlikely Amateur Sleuths Are On the Case, featuring amateur sleuths who take matters into their own hands- from cozy, small-town investigations to gripping whodunits!

Meet Zoe B. Wallbrook

Zoe B. Wallbrook is a recently tenured professor whose academic research has appeared in outlets such as the New York Times and The New Yorker. She was selected for mentorship by LA Times bestseller Elizabeth Little, and History Lessons, her first novel, was a runner-up for the Eleanor Taylor Bland Award. Zoe's hobbies include beginning all emails with, "My sincerest apologies for my slow reply," pretending to understand how astrological signs work, and crying at the end of every Call the Midwife episode. She and her husband live with their stalker, a black lab/pittie mix named Sophie.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the July Book Club Chat (Husbands & Lovers)

BONUS BOOK LIST: 41 Unlikely Amateur Sleuths

History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Dawn by Octavia Butler

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Pitch Wars

Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little

Pretty as a Picture by Elizabeth Little

Papillon by Henri Charriere

Papillon

American Slavery, American Freedom by Edmund S. Morgan

Tyler Stovall

Sue Peabody

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Zoe Wallbrook on Instagram or her Website

How a Chemistry Major Wrote a High-Stakes Debut Jun 27, 2025

Not knowing the publishing rules helped Austin Taylor sell her debut, Notes on Infinity. From lab notes to spreadsheets, learn her data-driven approach.

In today's Book Gang episode, debut author Austin Taylor joins me to discuss her dazzling new novel Notes on Infinity. This high-concept campus novel follows Zoe and Jack, two brilliant students whose late-night collaboration leads to the development of an anti-aging drug, a billion-dollar startup, and a powerful reckoning.

Austin brings a unique blend of rigor and vulnerability to her work, drawing from her dual background in chemistry and English, as well as personal experiences with chronic illness that reshaped her academic trajectory. Notes on Infinity may ask how far we'll go to chase our dreams, but this conversation dives into how far Austin went to write them.

In this insightful conversation, Austin and I discuss:

How not knowing "the rules" of publishing gave her the freedom to query an ambitious debut.
The thoughtful strategies she used to distill complex scientific ideas without losing her novel's credibility—or alienating readers.
The importance of chronic illness representation and how her own health challenges added urgency and emotional authenticity to the story.

BONUS BOOK LIST:

This week, I'm sharing a companion list of 32 Unforgettable Campus Novels With All the Drama—from ivy-draped secrets to heady student-faculty dynamics to the unsettling thrill of starting over. If Notes on Infinity sparked something for you, these book titles will keep the conversation going.

Meet Austin Taylor

Austin Taylorgraduated from Harvard University in 2021 with a joint degree in chemistry and English. Notes on Infinity is inspired in part by her undergraduate studies, peers, and lab work in Harvard’s chemistry department. She has also worked as a public speaking coach and in science policy. Austin is a private pilot, a registered Maine guide, and a bassist. She grew up in central Maine, where she now lives and writes.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the June Book Club Chat (The Reckless Oath We Made)

BONUS BOOK LIST: 32 Unforgettable Campus Novels

Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor

CRISPR

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

https://www.instagram.com/austintaylorwrites/

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Austin Taylor on Instagram or her Website

Dolen Perkins-Valdez Writes Like Every Book Is Her Last Jun 20, 2025

Dolen Perkins-Valdez shares the riveting history behind her new book, Happy Land, the research surprises she uncovered, and how urgency drives her storytelling.

In today's Book Gang episode, New York Times bestselling author Dolen Perkins-Valdez joins me to discuss Happy Land, a transporting novel inspired by the true story of a lost kingdom built by freed people in the hills of North Carolina.

This dual-timeline story explores land, lineage, and the courage it takes to reclaim what is yours. Dolen's excavation process informs this sweeping novel—even uncovering a few historical inaccuracies along the way. The result is a stunning celebration of Black heritage and a poignant reclamation of overlooked American history that has captivated her readers.

In this moving conversation, Dolen and I discuss:

Why Dolen feels an urgency behind each book she writes—and how it drives her to shape her manuscripts
The immersive research that brought the Kingdom community to life, including conversations with local historians and surprising archival discoveries.
How the concept of royalty and reclamation shaped the story—and why the roles of Black women in these communities are long overdue for deeper recognition.

BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, I'm sharing a companion list of 27 Historical Fiction Book Club Books to Check Out Now, featuring new releases and timeless backlist picks that will spark incredible conversations within your book club.

Meet Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Dolen Perkins-Valdez is the New York Times bestselling author of Wench, Balm, Take My Hand, and her newest novel, Happy Land. Her work has earned honors from the NAACP, the American Bar Association, and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, and she's been recognized as one of the most vital voices chronicling American historical life.

In addition to her writing, Dolen is an associate professor of literature at American University. She has introduced modern editions of Twelve Years a Slave and Behind the Scenes, bringing an unflinching dedication to uncovering hidden histories and amplifying overlooked Black stories. She lives in Washington, DC, with her family.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the June Book Club Chat (The Reckless Oath We Made)

BONUS BOOK LIST: 27 Historical Fiction Book Club Books For Your Next Meeting

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Take My Hand Book Club Discussion on Patreon

Ocean Vuong

Black History Research Committee

Sadie Smathers Patton

The Black Utopians by Aaron Robertson

Blue Ridge Archive Web Exhibit

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

The Queen of Sugar Hill by Rashonda Tate

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Dolen on Instagram or her Website

Why Allegra Goodman Hid Her Isola Manuscript Jun 13, 2025

Allegra Goodman tells the surprising origin story of Isola—from a children's book discovery to immersive museum research—all written in complete secrecy.

In today's Book Gang episode, celebrated author Allegra Goodman joins me to discuss her stunning survival novel Isola, the incredible true story that inspired it, and the highly unusual creative process behind her most critically acclaimed book yet.

Allegra kept Isola a secret—entirely—from her agent, her family, and even close friends while she wrote it. She reveals why this story demanded privacy and how keeping it under wraps gave her a rare creative clarity. She also shares what it meant to research this historical setting in museums and archives and how a serendipitous find in a children's book 22 years ago sparked the idea that would grow into Isola.

In this inspiring conversation, Allegra and I discuss:

Why she kept Isola a secret from everyone—even her agent and family—throughout the writing process. We explore what drove this decision, how it freed her creatively, and what it felt like to reveal the project once it was complete.
The immersive research behind the novel, including museum visits and the spark of inspiration that came from a children's book during a late-night feeding session. Allegra traces the story's origin back 22 years, when she stumbled on a brief mention of a marooned noblewoman that she couldn't shake.
What it's really like to be selected for both Reese's Book Club and Read With Jenna. Allegra is the first guest to share a behind-the-scenes look at these high-profile honors—how they differ, what surprised her, and how they've shaped her connection with readers.

BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, I’m sharing a companion book list with 25 Enthralling Books Set on Islands to read, including new releases and backlist titles. Whether you crave adventure, a love story, a small town, or historical fiction, this list has you covered.

Meet Allegra Goodman

Allegra Goodman's novels include Isola (a Reese's Book Club selection), Sam (a Read With Jenna Book Club selection), The Chalk Artist (winner of the Massachusetts Book Award), Intuition, The Cookbook Collector, ParadisePark, andKaaterskill Falls(a National Book Award finalist). Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and elsewhere and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She has written two collections of stories, The Family Markowitz and Total Immersionand a novel for younger readers, The Other Side of the Island. Her essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic,The Washington Post,The Boston Globe, and The American Scholar. Raised in Honolulu, Goodman studied English and philosophy at Harvard and received a PhD in English literature from Stanford. She is the recipient of a Whiting Writer's Award, the Salon Award for Fiction, and fellowships from MacDowell and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced study. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Mass.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the June Book Club Chat (The Reckless Oath We Made)

BONUS BOOK LIST: 25 Enthralling Books Set on Islands

Isola by Allegra Goodman

The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman

Sam by Allegra Goodman

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Allegra on Instagram or her Website

Milo Todd is Reclaiming Trans History Jun 06, 2025

Milo Todd discusses the research process for his debut, The Lilac People. This sweeping historical fiction novel shares a devastating chapter in trans history.

Debut novelist Milo Todd joins me to discuss his book, The Lilac People, in honor of Pride Month. This heartbreaking historical fiction novel uncovers a devastating chapter in queer and trans history.

Milo's novel centers on a group of trans and intersex patients at Berlin's Institute for Sexual Science as Hitler's regime begins its rise to power. Through stunning research and unforgettable characters, readers uncover a nearly erased history to life—while drawing chilling parallels to today's political climate.

In our conversation, Milo shares how real historical figures and overlooked archives shaped the characters in his novel—and why it was crucial to honor the lives of those whose stories were almost erased from history.

In this moving conversation, Milo and I discuss:

How Milo discovered the history of the Institute for Sexual Science and the work of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld—and the biggest surprises when researching their legacy.
The challenges with research for this novel in the face of the pandemic and the creative avenues he took to build his story
How Milo sees trans people as being the canaries in the coal mine as we discuss one of his story's most impactful scenes
How Milo's teaching work with trans youth informs his writing and what actions he believes are most impactful in allyship today.

BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, I'm sharing a companion book list of 26 LGBTQ History Books to read, including new releases and backlist titles,that offer illuminating details on the joys and triumphs throughout queer history.

Meet Milo Todd

Milo Todd is a Massachusetts Cultural Council grantee and a Lambda Literary Fellow. His work has appeared in Slice Magazine and elsewhere. He is the co-editor-in-chief of Foglifter and teaches creative writing to queer and trans adults. The Lilac People is his debut novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Browse the 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide (with ads) or download the 48-page reading guide ($7) to support our show. If you are a show patron, check your inbox for your copy as part of your member benefits—thank you for supporting my small business!

Join the June Book Club Chat (The Reckless Oath We Made)

BONUS BOOK LIST: 26 LGBTQ Books to Read for Pride Month

Red Clay Suzie by Jeffrey Dale Lofton

Larry Hoffer (@getbookedwithlarry)

The Lilac People by Milo Todd

The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden

You Can't Ask That

Institute for Sexual Science

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Milo's Events

The Queer Writer

A sample of Max Meyers's narration

Milo's Instagram

We Are Bookish (NetGalley's blog)

milotodd.com

How to Jazz Up Your Book Club While Reading The Lilac People

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Milo on Instagram or his Website

Join the May Book Club Chat (Beautyland)

Hit the Road with Annie Hartnett May 30, 2025

Annie Hartnett discusses the inspiration behind her quirky road trip novel The Road to Tender Hearts and why she breaks all the rules in writing her stories.

Annie Hartnett joins me to discuss her latest bestselling novel, The Road to Tender Hearts, and the inspiration behind this road trip story. We explore the heartfelt and humorous moments that showcase a wonderfully quirky found family, which even includes a psychic cat.

She also shares the surprising real-life inspirations for her unforgettable characters and explains how literary mischief is woven into their worlds.

In this quirky conversation, Annie and I discuss:

Why Annie made a death-predicting cat named Pancakes the emotional engine of the novel—and how a real-life nursing home cat named Oscar inspired this unforgettable character.
How playing with point of view and narrator's voice keeps her writing fresh, and why she's unconcerned with grammar "rules."
How Annie's own cross-country trip in her twenties helped shape the emotional core of this incredible road trip story.

BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, I'm sharing an accompanying book list of 29 books about road trips, including new releases and backlist titles, that speak to the ripple effects of substance use across families and generations.

Meet Annie Hartnett

Annie Hartnett is the author of Unlikely Animals, which won the Julia Ward Howe Prize for fiction and was longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize.She is also theauthor of Rabbit Cake, a finalist for the New England Book Award and a Kirkus Reviews best book of the year. Hartnett has been awarded fellowships and residencies from the MacDowell Colony, the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and the Associates of the Boston Public Library. Along with writer Tessa Fontaine, she co-runs the Accountability Workshops for writers, helping them commit to routines and embrace the long, slow, joyful, terrible process of doing the work. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog.

Mentioned in this episode:

Browse the 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide (with ads) or download the 48-page reading guide ($7) to support our show. If you are a show patron, check your inbox for your copy as part of your member benefits—thank you for supporting my small business!

BONUS BOOK LIST: 29 Books About Road Trips to Read Now

Download Today's Transcript

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett

Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett

Red Dog Farm by Nathaniel Ian Miller

Married with Children

The Frightening and Wonderful Things That Will Happen to You When You Publish Your First Novel by Rufi Thorpe

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Annie on Instagram or her Website

Join the May Book Club Chat (Beautyland)

This Raw Debut Shows Addiction's True Cost May 23, 2025

In this Jessica Guerrieri interview, we discuss her debut, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, and how 12 years of sobriety shaped this unforgettable tale.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a raw and emotionally resonant debut that examines the insidious nature of alcohol addiction and how it distorts relationships, parenting, and one woman's self-perception. In this conversation, Jessica shares how her twelve-year sobriety journey shaped the story and why telling the truth about addiction matters.

In this heartfelt and powerful conversation, Jessica and I discuss:

How Jessica's sobriety journey helped her write Leah's addiction story with such emotional clarity
The mental gymnastics of addiction—and what she wants readers to understand about recovery
How the sober community rallied around her and helped usher her novel into the world
The truths about AA meetings that might surprise readers
Why she chose to blur the lines between literary fiction and women's fiction in her genre-bending debut

BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, I'm sharing a companion book list of 19 addiction fiction reads, including new releases and backlist titles, that speak to the ripple effects of substance use across families and generations.

Meet Jessica Guerrieri

Originally from the Bay Area, Jessica Guerrieri lives in Davis, California, with her husband and three young daughters. Jessica has a background teaching special education but left the field to pursue a career in writing. Her debut novel, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, won the Maurice Prize for Fiction from her alma mater, UC Davis. With over a decade of sobriety, Jessica is a fierce advocate for addiction recovery.

Mentioned in this episode:

Browse the 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide (with ads) or download the 39-page reading guide ($7) to support our show. If you are a show patron, check your inbox for your copy as part of your member benefits—thank you for supporting my small business!

19 Addiction Fiction Books to Read Now

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

Lara Love Hardin

Happy Women Dinners

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Jessica on Instagram or her Website

Buy the 2025 Summer Reading Guide

2025 Summer Reading Guide May 16, 2025

The NEW 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide includes 56 titles, including upcoming releases, new releases, and backlist gems. Browse 39 pages of bookish fun to prepare for your best summer stack.

Welcome to one of my favorite episodes of the year- the official reveal of the 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide! This year's guide features 56 handpicked titles across every genre to help you find the perfect book for your summer reading mood.

In this special episode of Book Gang, I'm revealing the inspiration behind this year's Summer Reading Guide. A recent health challenge shifted how and why I read, making this season's selections more intentional, joy-filled, and personal than ever before.

From the ninety-eight books I read for this season, I'm spotlighting four unforgettable debut novels that stole my heart and should be at the top of your TBR. These fresh new voices are ones I'll be championing all season long, and I hope they become new favorites for you, too.

Don't miss my special announcements on three upcoming projects I have in the works for online AND local friends to create even MORE bookish fun for your reading year. Grab a notebook (or open your Libby app!) to reserve all these gorgeous books for this year's fun, and let's deep dive into the WHY behind this year's selections.

Browse the 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide (with ads) or receive the 39-page reading guide download ($7) to support our show. If you are a show patron, check your inbox for your copy as part of your member benefits- thank you for supporting my small business!

Editor's Note: We have switched from Bookshop.org to direct sales with three featured bookshops to ensure they keep every penny of the profit.

Meet Amy Allen Clark

In 2013, Amy authored The Good Life for Less, published by Penguin, and provided families tips for running their household on a shoestring budget.

Residing in Indiana, Amy is a mother of two who has shared her journey living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome to raise awareness and support others facing similar health challenges.

Connect With Me:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Support the Show With a Tip on Buy Me a Coffee

Writing Bestsellers With An ADHD Brain May 09, 2025

In this Allison Larkin interview, we discuss writing Home of the American Circus and the creative writing routines that have transformed her life with ADHD.

This week, I'm talking with my friend and bestselling author Allison Larkin about her latest novel, Home of the American Circus. But this conversation goes far beyond crafting this sprawling family drama. Allison is pulling back the curtain on how she writes such emotionally resonant stories while navigating ADHD and the beautiful writing habits she's uncovered by simply embracing her creative brain.

Home of the American Circus is set in Somers, NY—the birthplace of the American circus and the author's hometown. Freya must return home after a financial emergency in this beautiful family drama. The house she's returned to is crumbling, and the relationships are even more so. But when she discovers her 15-year-old niece secretly living there, she unravels her past and reimagines what healing might look like.

In this warm conversation, Allison and I discuss:

🧠 What writing with ADHD actually looks like for her—and the tools that help her workflow

📚 How neurodivergent representation shaped her character and why this representation matters

🎧 The magic of working with longtime audiobook narrator Julia Whelan and what it is like to hear her books read by the prolific narrator for the first time

🖼 How her creative hobbies breathe life into her fictional world and the new pursuits that are helping her find her voice

This episode is part of our Summer Author Series featuring fourteen incredible voices from our 2025 Summer Reading Guide. The guide will drop on May 16th!

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Circus Books

To go with today's theme, I've also created an immersive immersive circus books book list featuring 22 unforgettable titles that are filled with magic, mystery, and unforgettable adventure under the big top.

📚 Book Club Reminder: Don't forget to join our May book club discussion of Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino on May 30th at 8 PM ET.

📝 Love this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts—it's a free way to support the show and help more readers discover our conversations.

🎧 Bonus Challenge: Have a favorite circus-themed novel? Tap the Spotify comment box and share!

Meet Allison Larkin

Allison Larkin is the internationally bestselling author of the novels The People We Keep, Stay, Why Can’t I Be You, and Swimming for Sunlight. Her short fiction has been published in the Summerset Review and Slice, and nonfiction in Author in Progress, a how-to guide from Writer’s Digest Books, and the dog anthology I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Jeremy, and their rescue dogs.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the May Book Club Chat (Beautyland)

Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

Old Bet statue in Somers, NY

Scrivener

Swimming For Sunlight by Allie Larkin

Eowyn Ivey Returns to Magical Realism

Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook

Julia Whelan

Stay by Allie Larkin

Thank you for Listening by Julia Whelan

The Julia Whelan Interview You Need to Hear

Bluff by Michael Kardos

TrueHearts Collective

The People We Keep: An Interview with Allison Larkin

Now That We Think About It Podcast

Lessons For Writing Your First Book with Ethan Joella

Alice Carbone Tench

Eating Again: The Recipes That Healed Me by Alice Carbone Tench

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Allison on Instagram or her Website

Unboxing the Influencer Life Through Fiction May 02, 2025

This week, we're diving into a debut thriller that's frothy, funny, and unhinged in the best way. Liann Zhang joins me for a laugh-out-loud conversation about her new novel, Julie Chan Is Dead—a genre-blending con-artist thriller about identical twin sisters whose lives split in dramatically different directions… until one of them winds up dead.

When the authorities mistake Julie for her famous sister, she makes a bold choice: to step into Chloe's perfectly curated shoes and steal her life. What follows is a fast-paced, satirical exploration of influencer culture, viral content, and the dark side of social media fame.

In the spirit of the influencer theme, we share the most bizarre influencer swag we've ever received before digging into how a pandemic-fueled fascination with influencer culture allowed Liann to take a break from her dreams of writing about the Ming Dynasty.

We also talk about what it's like to write a morally murky protagonist, the grotesque cult subplot that takes things to the next level, and why this book just might be Bunny meets Yellowface with a touch of The Bling Ring.

In this fun conversation, Liann and I discuss:

How Liann pivoted from writing about the Ming Dynasty to a con-artist thriller
Why influencer culture during the pandemic was the perfect satirical setting
Creating the character of Julie: an intriguing anti-heroine who fully leans into her morally gray side.
The ongoing need for critical consumption of influencer content

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Books About Twins

Can I parent-trap you into a new book list? If Julie Chan Is Dead got you hooked on stories about sisters and identity swaps, don't miss this week's themed list on Books About Twins. You'll find chilling mysteries, psychological thrillers, and heart-tugging literary fiction that explore the unique dynamics only twins can share!

📚 Book Club Reminder:

Don't forget—our next MomAdvice Book Club meeting is on May 30th at 8 PM ET, and we'll discuss Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino. We can't wait to hear your thoughts on this surreal and moving novel during our community conversation!

🎧 LET'S CONNECT: What's your favorite twin-themed book? Tap the comment feature on Spotify and share your pick—I'd love to hear from you!

📝 Love this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts—it's a free way to support the show and help more readers discover our conversations.

Meet Liann Zhang

Liann Zhang is a second-generation Chinese Canadian who splits her time between Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario. After a short stint as a skincare content creator, she graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in psychology and criminology. Julie Chan Is Dead is her first novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the May Book Club Chat (Beautyland)

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang

Anna Delvey

Apple Cider Vinegar

Julie Chan is Dead PR box

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Liann on Instagram or her Website

The Evangelist Who Vanished and Returned Apr 25, 2025

Journalist Claire Hoffman unpacks Sister, Sinner, the gripping true crime story of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson’s disappearance and miraculous return.

If you've never heard the name, Aimee Semple McPherson, you're not alone—but Claire Hoffman's Sister Sinner will ensure you never forget her name again as America's first mega-preacher.

Today, we discuss this riveting biography, which opens with the astonishing true story of Aimee, who shaped modern evangelicalism, vanished into the ocean for 35 days, and returned with a kidnapping tale so wild it led to two sensational trials.The author was the first researcher granted access to the complete court records of Aimee's grand jury trial—records that, for more than a century, the Foursquare Church has refused to share with the outside world.

Uncover her journalistic approach, which is both deeply researched and refreshingly secular. Embracing Aimee's contradictions—faith healer and showman, sinner and saint, feminist and fundamentalist creates a page-turning experience. Whether religious or not, you'll love this conversation on how charisma, celebrity, and faith collide.

In this intimate and insightful conversation, Claire and I discuss:

Her background and five-year research process to bring Aimee's story to life
Why Aimee's disappearance is the opening chapter, and what type of reader did she hope the true crime angle might pull in
How Claire's background as a journalist for Rolling Stone has given her a unique lens into the world of what it means to be a celebrity
The effort and reverence required when accessing court documents like this for a project

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: I've curated a list of 28 incredible books about faith and churches featuring buzzworthy new releases and must-read backlist gems. Browse while you listen!

🗓 BOOK CLUB INVITE: Patrons, check your inbox for a printable version of this list and an invite to our April 25th chat with Lynda Cohen Loigman on The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern. We'll discuss her cozy, feel-good novel about finding love in your eighties.

📝 Love this show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts—it's a free way to support my work and help other book lovers find us.

Meet Claire Hoffman

Claire Hoffman is the author of the memoir Greetings from Utopia Park and a journalist reporting for national magazines on culture, religion, celebrity, business, and more. She was formerly a staff reporter for the Los Angeles Times and Rolling Stone. She is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz, and has an MA in religion from the University of Chicago and an MA in journalism from Columbia University. She serves on the boards of the Columbia School of Journalism, ProPublica, and the Brooklyn Public Library. Her new book is SISTER, SINNER: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the April Book Club Chat (The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern)

BONUS BOOK LIST: 28 Books About Churches & Faith (fiction & nonfiction)

Sister, Sinner by Claire Hoffman

Greetings From Utopia Park by Claire Hoffman

Charles Duhigg

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Claire on Instagram or her Website

How The Bright Years Was Paved Through Letters Apr 18, 2025

Sarah Damoff shares how The Bright Years evolved from an epistolary draft into a powerful multi-POV family saga exploring addiction across generations.

Every so often, a debut novel arrives so confident and assured it's hard to believe it's the author's first. Sarah Damoff's The Bright Years is one of those rare books. Deeply informed by her work as a social worker, Sarah offers readers an empathetic and profoundly immersive exploration of addiction and its reverberations across generations. Deftly weaving their family's personal history with political and cultural moments creates a layered portrait of a family navigating love and loss through the generations.

In this intimate and insightful conversation, Sarah and I discuss:

Her savvy and scrappy journey to landing a book deal with Simon & Schuster
How The Bright Years began as an epistolary novel and evolved into a multi-POV saga
The challenge of writing addiction and redemption with compassion
How setting the story across decades helped her explore shifting perspectives and memory

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: I've curated a list of the best 19 addiction fiction books—featuring buzzworthy new releases and must-read backlist gems. Browse while you listen!

🎧 LET'S CONNECT: What's the best fiction book you've read on addiction or recovery? Tap that comment feature on Spotify—I'd love to hear your picks!

📝 Love this show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts—it's a free way to support my work and help other book lovers find us. And to my Book Gang patrons: you've given me bright years I didn't know were possible. Thank you!

Meet Sarah Damoff

Sarah Damoff lives in Texas with her husband and children, where she is a social worker. Her work has appeared inPorter House Review, Ruminate Magazine, and Open Global Rights, among other publications. The Bright Years is her debut novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the April Book Club Chat (The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern)

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 19 Addiction Fiction Books to Read Now

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

Young Park

The Best Debut Novels of 2023 with Thao Thai

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli

Claire Lombardo

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Lisa Genova

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

Barbara Kingsolver

Maggie O'Farrell

Dani Shapiro

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Sarah on Instagram or her Website

How Sarah Harman's Debut Took Publishing By a Storm Mar 21, 2025

Sarah Harman shares the journey behind All the Other Mothers Hate Me, from journalism to fiction, a fierce book auction, and its upcoming FX adaptation.

You'll know immediately if this book is for you from the opening line: "The missing boy is ten-year-old Alfie Risby, and to be perfectly honest with you, he's a little shit."

That audacious beginning sets the tone for All the Other Mothers Hate Me, a compulsively readable thriller perfect for fans of Big Little Lies and Finlay Donovan.

Sarah Harman's journey to publication is just as gripping as her novel. A former foreign correspondent for NBC News, Harman's background in breaking news reporting brings a sharp, fast-paced edge to her storytelling. Her debut became the subject of a fierce bidding war, ultimately securing a major deal—and soon, it'll hit the screen, adapted for FX by The Bear'sChristopher Storer.

In this episode, we discuss:

How All the Other Mothers Hate Mesubverts the missing-child thriller trope
The surreal experience of a nine-way auction for her book deal
Her involvement in adapting the novel for television
The cultural and feminist themes woven into her story

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: This week's book list features 30 Amateur Sleuth Novels that will keep you on your toes. From upcoming releases to backlist gems, we've got plenty of whodunits to explore.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

Who is your favorite amateur sleuth in fiction? Drop a comment on Spotify—I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Meet Sarah Harman

Sarah Harman is an American journalist-turned-thriller writer living in London. Before making her fiction debut, she spent over a decade covering major global news stories. Her novel All the Other Mothers Hate Me is out now from Putnam, with translation rights sold in 15 countries and a TV adaptation in the works.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the March Book Club Chat (Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson)

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 30 Unlikely Amateur Sleuths Are On The Case In This Book Stack

All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman

Professional Book Nerds: Spring's Best New Books with Amy Allen Clark

Emancipation of Mimi

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Sorrow & Bliss by Meg Mason

Fleabag

Young Adult

Bad Teacher

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Sarah on Instagram or her Website

Today's Show Transcript

How a Cozy Family Drama Made This Writer Fall in Love With His Craft Mar 14, 2025

Jinwoo Chong celebrates food, family, & finding love in his cozy novel, I Leave It Up To You. Learn how this project helped him fall in love with writing again.

What if you fell asleep in 2019 and woke up in 2021? That's the reality for Jack Jr., who emerges from a two-year coma to find his life unrecognizable. His job is gone, his apartment is lost, and his partner has moved on. But in his return to his childhood home and his family's struggling restaurant, he begins to rebuild—rekindling relationships, rediscovering love, and redefining what home truly means.

Jinwoo Chong shares the beautiful inspiration behind this poignant and tender slice-of-life novel, which seamlessly blends a swoon-worthy love story with a cozy family drama. We discuss how I Leave It Up to You evolved from a short story, the impact of the pandemic on its themes, and the role of food as both a comfort and a metaphor for resilience.

BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss our Captivating Books About Nurses Book List, featuring 28 incredible new and backlist titles celebrating caregivers.

Meet Jinwoo Chong

Jinwoo Chong is the author of Flux, a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway and VCU Cabell First Novel awards, and a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. His work has appeared in The Southern Review, Guernica, The Rumpus, and more. His latest novel, I Leave It Up to You, is now available from Penguin Random House.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 28 Captivating Books About Nurses

Join the March Book Club Chat (Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson)

I Leave It Up to You by Jinwoo Chong

Flux by Jinwoo Chong

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Jinwoo on Instagram or his Website

Today's Show Transcript

Eowyn Ivey Returns to Magical Realism Mar 07, 2025

Eowyn Ivey joins us from Alaska to discuss her latest magical realism novel, Black Woods Blue Sky. Prepare to be transported by one of my favorite storytellers!

The queen of magical realism, Eowyn Ivey, joins us to share intriguing insights into her third novel, Black Woods Blue Sky, and how her deep connection to Alaska continues to shape her storytelling.

She also discusses the challenges of writing through a difficult personal season, the impact of reuniting with her longtime editorial team, and the immersive research that took her to a remote hunting camp on Kodiak Island.

Discover her ties to the character Emmaleen, how Birdie's contradictions capture the realities of relatable motherhood, and what stereotypes about rural Alaska she wanted to challenge through her character's bookish adventures.

Don't miss this week's Fairy Tale Retellings Book List featuring 27 magical books to escape with this weekend. I hope you love it!

Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation! Eowyn will share her thoughts onBlackwood's Blue Sky ending and the fine line she teetered between reality and imagination in her moving story. Get your tissues- it's a beautiful bonus chat.

Meet Eowyn Ivey

Eowyn Ivey is the bestselling author of The Snow Child, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and To the Bright Edge of the World. Born and raised in Alaska, she draws inspiration from its rugged landscapes and folklore. Black Woods Blue Sky is her highly anticipated third novel, which is now available on store shelves from Random House.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 27 Fairy Tale Retellings to Enchant Your Reading Life

Join the March Book Club Chat (Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson)

Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey

Ruth Hulbert

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Eowyn on Instagram or her Website

Join the February Book Club Chat (The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate)

How Family History and Legacy Shaped Junie Feb 14, 2025

Erin Crosby Eckstine discusses her debut novel, Junie, and how her family history transformed her life from English teacher to chosen GMA Book Club novelist.

In this episode, Erin Crosby Eckstine shares the moving inspiration behind her debut novel Junie, a profoundly personal story rooted in her own family's history.

Erin reveals how Junie's character is inspired by her great-great-great-grandmother, Jane Cotton, who escaped slavery and became one of the Black founders of Coosada, Alabama. We discuss the importance of balancing joy and trauma in narratives like these and why it is essential to bring both to readers and those represented in these stories.

You can also discover Erin's unconventional publishing methods, which led to her becoming a GMA Book Club pick, and how her family legacy catalyzed her going from Google Docs to a finished novel.

BONUS BLACK HISTORY MONTH BOOK LIST:

Don't miss this week's Black History Month book list, featuring 36 phenomenal books by Black authors to celebrate this historic month. All books purchased from today's list will be fulfilled through Brain Lair Books, a Black-owned bookshop that has been financially struggling and needs your support to keep its doors open.

Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation with Erin Crosby Eckstine, where we discuss the surprising plot twists in Junie and the details of this story that she has always wanted to share with her readers.

Meet Erin Crosby Eckstine

Erin Crosby Eckstine is an author of speculative historical fiction, personal essays, and anything else she's in the mood for. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, she grew up between the South and Los Angeles before moving to New York City to attend Barnard College. She earned a master's in secondary English education from Stanford University and taught high school English for six years. Erin lives in Brooklyn with her partner and their cats. JUNIE is her debut novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Today's Show Transcript

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: Black History Month Books You Need to Read Now

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Sarah Madden

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Jane Austen

Erin as Lady Catherine de Bourgh

The Favorites by Layne Fargo

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Danya Kukafkamo

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

Good Morning America Book Pick

The Celebrity Book Club Deep Diver Episode You Need

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Isabel Allende

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Erin on Instagram or her Website

Join the January Book Club Chat (How to Read a Book by Monica Wood)

Libby’s Best Horror Books of 2024 and Exciting App Updates Jan 24, 2025

Paging library lovers- Joe from the Libby team is back to share the exciting app updates and his top five horror book recommendations from 2024 to read now.

In this All-Star Book Influencer series installment, we’re thrilled to spotlight Joe Skelley, cohost of The Professional Book Nerds podcast and a member of the Libby team. Joe shares his favorite features of the Libby app, lesser-known tips for maximizing your library experience, and exciting updates on the horizon for readers.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Sneak peeks at upcoming Libby features and enhancements.
How to manage packed holds lists and uncover hidden library gems.
Tips for new Libby users to get started and make the most of the app.

In the second half of the episode, Amy and Joe dive into the world of horror literature. Joe shares:

What first drew him to horror and why he loves the genre.
How horror reflects societal fears and captures anxieties relevant to today.
Advice for readers hesitant to try horror, including recommendations that focus on atmosphere and psychological tension over gore.

Discover five of Joe’s must-read horror recommendations that range from chilling novellas to groundbreaking works by authors redefining the genre.

Whether you’re here for the horror or want to optimize your library experience, this episode has something for every reader.

Meet Joe

Joe Skelley is one of the co-hosts of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. He is also a Marketing and Events Specialist at OverDrive, where he leads the coordination of the Library Vehicle as it tours around the US and Canada, contributes to the Check Out Your Library movement, and works on special events for OverDrive’s Digipalooza conference.

When he isn’t working, Joe loves to listen to audiobooks and podcasts, get too involved in a craft or DIY project, and (most importantly) spend time with his Boston Terrier, Roscoe!

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 5 New Horror Books to Read Now

Professional Book Nerds Podcast

Get the Most Out of the Libby App (Podcast Episode)

Libby App

How The StoryGraph Can Enhance Your Reading Life (Podcast Episode)

Jackal by Erin E Adams

The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

Pounded In The Butt By My Own Butt by Chuck Tingle

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

Beholder by Ryan La Sala

Clay McLeod Chapman

Cackle by Rachel Harrison

The Return by Rachel Harrison

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

The Strangers

Coup de Grace by Sofia Ajram

Kanopy

A24

A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons

Monstrillo by Gerardo Samano Cordova

Tomie by Junji Ito

Longlegs

Lisa Frankenstein

Letterboxd App

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Joe on the Professional Book Nerds Podcast and Instagram

The Best Books of 2024 Jan 08, 2025

We read a total of 482 books and are excited to share fifteen of our favorite titles from our 2024 reading list. Explore these new releases alongside our favorite backlist books for your best reading year yet.

We invite you to browse our book lists featuring 25 of our favorites. Patrons will receive a printable checklist with today's book titles and some of our honorable mentions.

Larry's Top 25 Books of 2024 (Including Honorable Mentions)

Best Books of the Year Full Lists:

Amy's Top 25 Books of 2024

Other Books Mentioned in This Episode:

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

Family Family by Laurie Frankel

Real Americans by Rachel Khong

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

Beautiful Ugly by Alec Feeney

PS I Hate You by Lauren Connolly

The Women by Kristin Hannah

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Honey by Isabel Bonta

Cinema Love by Jiaming Tang

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Wish You Weren't Here by Christy Schillig

Friends with Secrets by Christine Gunderson

Things Don’t Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins

James by Percival Everett

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Dear Fang, with Love by Rufi Thorpe

Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino

She’s Up to No Good by Sara Goodman Confino

Crafting a Killer Redemption Story With Heart (Rob Hart Interview)

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

How Braving a Literary Seminar Shaped The Lost Story (With Meg Shaffer)

The Best Escapist Island Books Podcast with Meg Shaffer

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon Van Booy

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian

The Nix by Nathan Hill

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Redefining the Missing Girl Narrative With Emiko Jean

The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives With Heart (Kennedy Ryan Interview)

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Browse Our 2025 Book Club Books

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

The Reader's Couch Podcast

The Best Agatha Christie Books Deep Dive Podcast Dec 20, 2024

Uncover the Agatha Christie beginner's guide with Victoria from The Reader's Couch! Explore her best-underrated gems and find new modern authors like Christie.

Deep dive into Agatha Christie's legacy with Victoria Wood from The Reader's Couch podcast! In this episode of the All-Star Book Influencer Series, we uncover what makes Christie's mysteries so enduring, why her storytelling resonates across generations, and how contemporary authors like Sophie Hannah and Louise Penny have taken cues from her genius.

Takeaways include:

Victoria's introduction to Christie through The Body in the Library.
Christie's masterful use of red herrings in stories like And Then There Were None.
Underrated gems like Crooked House that deserve the spotlight.
The timeless appeal of the universal themes in Christie's work.

We also discuss how personal connections to literature enhance our reading experiences from other well-known authors and the evolution of Christie's legacy through modern adaptations.

BONUS CONTENT: Be sure to check out Victoria's article, "Beginner's Guide to Agatha Christie Books," which helps new readers explore Poirot, Miss Marple, and her standalone novels.

Meet Victoria Wood (The Reader’s Couch Podcast)

Victoria Wood hosts The Reader’s Couch Podcast. She is a reading enthusiast who has successfully guided self-proclaimed “non-readers” into cultivating and sustaining reading habits and assisted readers in fostering more intentional and fulfilling reading lives. She hosts conversations with authors to learn more about their writing and reading lives.

Mentioned in this episode:

Bibliolifestyle's Booktube Channel

Bibliolifestyle

Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Salem's Lot

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hildebrand

The Perfect Couple

Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman

Lady in the Lake

Disclaimer by Renee Knight

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Letterboxd app

Dead in Long Beach, Californiaby Venita Blackburn

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie & Sophie Hannah

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

A Pocketful of Rye by Agatha Christie

Crooked House by Agatha Christie

The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie

Conclave

Connect With Us:

Connect with Victoria on The Reader's Couch Podcast, Instagram, and YouTube

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

JOIN THE 2025 MomAdvice Book Club

Meet the 2025 MomAdvice Book Club Books Dec 06, 2024

Join the NEW 2025 MomAdvice Book Club and discover 12 incredible novels together along with many interactive author discussions for this year’s festivities.

It's my favorite day of the year (CUE THE CONFETTI) and I'm so excited to invite you to the 2025 MomAdvice Book Club! This year, we're mixing things up to make your book club experience even more immersive and engaging.

As I've done in years past, I've curated twelve fantastic reads spanning genres like historical fiction, romance, contemporary fiction, and even a touch of horror—there's something for everyone this year!

To discover this year's selections, you can head to today's post, which includes all the details, including the recommended format, the reading mood of the novel, and pacing information. Each description also offers the accompanying reader experience, which is PRETTY EPIC this year. After discussing what changes you want to see this year, I hope you'll be excited to experience this with me.

I've also uploaded a podcast going through each of these books for those of you that prefer an audio experience with some behind-the-scenes details. I hope you'll join me on this reading adventure!

Connect With Me:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Join the November Book Club Chat (This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel)

Your Gateway to Literary Fiction Books Nov 15, 2024

Dive into the world of literary fiction books with Tina from Book Talk, etc. Discover her top 5 book recommendations for readers and why she loves the genre.

I'm so excited to launch our new All-Star Book Influencer series with our first guest, Tina from Book Talk, etc., who joins the show to offer our listeners her top recommendations for the best literary fiction novels.

What Can You Expect From the All-Star Book Influencer Series?

The All-Star Book Influencers Series will spotlight conversations with influential figures in the book world, from bookstagrammers and booktubers to podcast hosts and reading community leaders. Each of our upcoming guests has chosen their dream topic to discuss on our show.

Here's what you can come to expect in the months ahead:

Diverse Perspectives: Each guest will bring their unique take on reading, from curating lists that challenge our norms to reviving under-the-radar titles that deserve a second glance.
Fresh Recommendations: We'll cover everything from contemporary must-reads to cozy classics, ensuring our conversations remain as varied and engaging as your tastes.
Actionable Inspiration: Get ready for book talk that goes beyond the pages—these episodes will help you consider why you read what you do and how to open new pathways to reading more, reading diversely, and making your reading life more intentional.

Today, we define what we think makes a great literary fiction book, whether novels need satisfying endings to be favorites, and share Tina's top five recommendations for beginning a literary fiction reading journey.

We also discover more of her behind-the-scenes content creation process, including her experiences in the podcasting world, her transition to BookTube, and what she has learned about the importance of authenticity in content creation.

BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's bonus book list featuring 15 literary fiction titles perfect for escaping this reading season. This curated list includes both Tina's favorites and mine to kickstart your new reading journey.

Meet Tina

Tina Books is a bookish content creator and book podcaster. She is a self-proclaimed book pusher with a passion for new releases who focuses on mystery/thriller, literary fiction, horror, contemporary fiction, and memoir. Tina cohostsBook Talk, etc., a weekly book recommendation podcast. She can be found on Instagram and TikTok at TBR, etc. She is also finding her way on Booktube, also at TBR, etc.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 15 Literary Fiction Books For Character-Driven Adventures

Book Talk, etc. Podcast

Evenity

The Nonfiction November Challenge You Need

Notion

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

A24 Films

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

The Nickel Boys movie

Kanopy

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

30 Fictional Serial Killer Books to Read Now

The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld

The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld

Amy's Interview with Rene Denfeld

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Tina on the Book Talk, etc. Podcast, Instagram, Tiktok, and YouTube

Join the November Book Club Chat (This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel)

Redefining the Missing Girl Narrative With Emiko Jean Nov 01, 2024

In this episode, Emiko Jean discusses flipping the script on the traditional missing girl narrative in her new police procedural, The Return of Ellie Black.

This week, we’re joined by New York Times bestselling author Emiko Jean to discuss her latest police procedural novel, The Return of Ellie Black.

In today’s episode, Emiko offers a behind-the-scenes look at her writing process for The Return of Ellie Black, including the extensive research involved in portraying true crime elements and what missing girl narratives have been missing from their portrayals. She also opens up about the emotional challenges of writing certain scenes through the darker aspects of this thriller.

Don’t miss this week’s bonus book list, where we offer 23 atmospheric books perfect for your fall book stack. This list includes cozy fantasy, moody thrillers, and magical realism.

Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation with Emiko Jean, where we discuss the surprising plot twists in The Return of Ellie Black ending, and her plans for the upcoming Detective Chelsea Calhoun series.

Meet Emiko Jean

Emiko Jean is a New York Times bestselling author of adult and young adult fiction. Her books have been published in over 30 languages and have been featured by Good Morning America as a GMA Book Club pick and by Reese Witherspoon as a YA Book Club pick. Her work has appeared in Marie Claire, Entertainment Weekly, Time, Cosmopolitan, Shondaland, and Bustle. She lives in Washington with her husband and two kids.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 24 Atmospheric Books to Get Lost In

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

Under the Bridge Limited Series

Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey

What Happened to Nina by Dervla McTiernan

Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean

Other books by Emiko Jean:

Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

Empress of all Seasons by Emiko Jean

We’ll Never Be Apart by Emiko Jean

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Emiko Jean on Instagram or her Website

Join the October Book Club Chat (Severance by Ling Ma)

How Braving a Literary Seminar Shaped The Lost Story (With Meg Shaffer) Oct 18, 2024

Meg Shaffer takes us behind the scenes to the literary seminar with legendary writer Richard Russo, who helped her craft her cozy fantasy book, The Lost Story.

Imposter syndrome is real and even our favorite authors experience it as they contemplate their next project. In this week's episode, we welcome back bestselling author Meg Shaffer to join us to discuss her latest cozy fantasy novel, The Lost Story, and the literary seminar with Richard Russo that guided this story and gave Meg the writing encouragement she always needed.

Today, we discuss Meg's unique research methods, including how she used Fiverr to fact-check archery scenes and gain insights into the pressures of writing a second novel after the commercial success of The Wishing Game.

Don’t miss this week’s bonus book list with 23 cozy fantasy books to read this autumn. This new book list includes upcoming titles, new releases, and, of course, those backlist book gems you have come to expect!

Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation with Meg Shaffer, where we discuss The Lost Story ending, her favorite moments in the book, and her top book recommendations from her spicy romance writing career for Harlequin!

Meet Meg Shaffer

Meg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game, which was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist, a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year, a #1 Barnes & Noble bestseller, and a Reader's Digest Best Book of the Year. Her second novel, The Lost Story, is an instant national bestseller and is available now from Ballantine.

With an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College, Shaffer lives in Kentucky with her husband and two cats—though the cats, unfortunately, aren't writers.

Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like The Lost Story. All purchases support this year's programming.

Mentioned in this episode:

BONUS BOOK LIST: 23 Cozy Fantasy Books To Lower Your Stress Levels

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

The Wishing Game Interview (Meg Shaffer's First Show)

The House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

The Magic of Old Hollywood Books with Molly Fader Episode

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

Jack Gibbons, Chopin Pianist

It by Stephen King

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Meg Shaffer on Instagram or her Website

Crafting a Killer Redemption Story With Heart (Rob Hart Interview) Oct 04, 2024

Rob Hart discusses his gripping novel, Assassins Anonymous, and the heartfelt storytelling approach that defines his work.

When Steven Spielberg's production company, Amblin Entertainment, snaps up the rights to a book within 24 hours of acquisition, you know the book must be incredible.

Today, Rob Hart joins us to discuss his new novel Assassins Anonymous and the unique background he brings to crafting a great fight sequence. This thriller offers readers humor, heart, and loads of cinematic action, making it an absolute favorite from my reading year. We discuss his plans for continuing this book series for readers and how he continually pivots genres and projects in his writing career.

Readers should prepare for deliciously clever plot twists, which we discuss in our patron spoiler-filled episode about the shocking Assassins Anonymous ending Hart crafted!

BONUS BOOK LIST

Whether you're in the mood for twisty thrillers, laugh-out-loud moments, or heartwarming escapes, I've rounded up 17 of my favorite binge-worthy books that are perfect for breaking out of a reading slump.

Meet Rob Hart

Rob Hart is the author of Assassins Anonymous, The Paradox Hotel, The Warehouse, the Ash McKenna crime series, and the co-author of Scott Free with James Patterson. He's worked as a book publisher, a reporter, a political communications director, and a commissioner for the city of New York. Hart lives on Staten Island.

Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like Assasins Anonymous. All purchases support this year's programming.

Join the October Book Club Chat (Severance by Ling Ma)

BONUS BOOK LIST: Books to Get Out of a Reading Slump Book List (17 Book Ideas)

Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart

The Warehouse by Rob Hart

The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart

Blood in the Cut by Alejandro Nodarse

Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Rob Hart on Instagram or his Website

SHOP THE DISABILTY PRIDE BOOK LIST

Peek Inside This Disability-Inclusive Bookshop and Why it Matters Sep 19, 2024

Discover the best Disability Pride Books curated by Cindy Otis from The Stacks Bookstore, who offers readers a virtual tour of her disability-inclusive space.

Cindy Otis's journey to opening The Stacks offers a vital and well-thought conversation about her own limitations in accessing bookshops and what was top of mind for her customers when designing an accessible and welcoming space for all, especially those with disabilities in Savannah, Georgia.

From ramps to fonts to her bookshop's tagline, Cindy's thoughtful design choices ensure every reader can enjoy the magic of books. Her small business journey will mesmerize you.

Get her top five book recommendations to celebrate Disability Pride Month all year long! But the best part is that you can support her shop through your purchases today in today's special Disability Pride Month book list. Let's shower Cindy's shop with some love this month.

Meet Cindy Otis

Cindy Otis is a writer and the author of the novel At the Speed of Lies, which is now out with Scholastic, and the critically acclaimed nonfiction book True or False, published by Macmillan.

Her other written work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, the New York Times, CNN, and Teen Vogue. She previously served as an intelligence analyst and manager at the CIA. She is not just a bookseller but a champion for inclusivity and accessibility in the literary world.

Mentioned in this episode:

PLEASE NOTE: ALL PURCHASES FROM TODAY'S SHOW SUPPORT THE STACKS BOOKSTORE

At the Speed of Lies by Cindy L. Otis

True or False by Cindy L. Otis

Cindy’s TikTok

The Stacks: How a Small Bookstore Plans to Make Big Waves on Waters Avenue

The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz

Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann

Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

True Biz by Sara Novic

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives with Heart

DOWNLOAD TODAY'S SHOW TRANSCRIPT

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Follow The Stacks Bookstore on Instagram or Tiktok

Spinning a Bad Review Into Romantic Gold With Laura Hankin Jun 21, 2024

Laura shares the painfully hilarious real-life inspiration behind her novel, discussing how personal experiences with negative feedback trickled into One-Star Romance.

The dark horse in my romance stack was Laura Hankin's debut novel, which pulled ahead as my summer favorite. After reading the author for years across genres, I'm honored to have Laura Hankin on the Book Gang podcast to discuss her writing pivot in One-Star Romance.

In a world of instant feedback, I was fascinated by Laura's hacks for processing reviewer feedback that still protects her creative process. These candid reflections offer valuable lessons for aspiring authors and a gentle reminder of the power of a one-liner scathing review that can haunt writers long after we've hit "post."

Patrons can dive into the One-Star Romance ending through today’s spoiler chat, where we discuss Hankin's surprising plot twists that take us to that swoon-worthy happily ever after.

Meet Laura Hankin

Laura Hankin is an accomplished author, screenwriter, and performer known for her captivating novels, perfect for beach reads and book club discussions. Her previous works include The Daydreams, Happy & You Know It, and A Special Place for Women.

One-Star Romance is her debut romance.

Mentioned in this episode:

TODAY'S GIANT BONUS SUMMER CONTENT:

Summer reading season is in full swing. Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like One-Star Romance. All purchases support this year's programming.

NEW: 26 Books About Books List

NEW: 32 Books About Authors and Publishing Book List

NEW: 23 Stunning Books About Bookstores Book List

NEW: 18 Books About Book Clubs Book List

NEW: 25 Books About Libraries Book List

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club

One Star Romance by Laura Hankin

American Fever by Dur E Aziz Amna

Laura Hankin's Tiktok Viral Moment

The Daydreams by Laura Hankin

Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin

A Special Place for Women by Laura Hankin

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

The Last Word by Taylor Adams

Akwaeke Emezi Shares Strategy for Processing Reviews

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Laura Hankin on Instagram, Tiktok, or her Website

NEW: The Best Social Horror Books To Read Now (23 Book Ideas)

Nicola Yoon Discusses Her Provocative Debut (One of Our Kind) Jun 07, 2024

Nicola Yoon discusses her provocative adult debut, One of Our Kind, and the surprising inspiration from The Stepford Wives that sparked her daring new story.

Writing inspiration can sometimes strike in the most unlikely places. Podcast listening in the shower electrified a story Nicola Yoon had never expected to write. Join us for an enlightening conversation with the bestselling young adult novelist as she discusses her provocative debut adult novel, One of Our Kind.

Today, she shares how The Stepford Wives inspired her thought-provoking thriller, and how she hopes to ignite book club conversation through her story’s pages.

Yoon also shares the mission behind her imprint, Joy Revolution Books, which she co-founded with her husband, David Yoon, to celebrate love stories by and about people of color. It’s a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes and a tribute to the couple’s dedication to these storytellers.

BONUS BOOK LIST: Take advantage of these 23 must-read social horror books for a summer immersion. You’ll love these thought-provoking book selections, from eerie dystopias to unsettling societal critiques.

Patrons can dive into the One of Our Kind ending through today’s spoiler chat, where we discuss Yoon’s motivations behind her characters, the book’s ending, and the connections she hopes the reader will make as they finish that last page.

Meet Nicola Yoon

Nicola Yoon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Instructions for Dancing, Everything, Everything, The Sun Is Also a Star, and a co-author of Blackout and Whiteout.

She is a National Book Award finalist, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book recipient, a Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner and the first Black woman to hit #1 on the New York Times Young Adult bestseller list. Two of her novels have been made into major motion pictures.

She’s also the co-publisher of Joy Revolution, a Random House young adult imprint dedicated to love stories starring people of color. She grew up in Jamaica and Brooklyn, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, the novelist David Yoon, and their daughter.

One of our Kind is her adult debut.

Mentioned in this episode:

BONUS SUMMER CONTENT:

Summer reading season is in full swing. Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like One of Our Kind. All purchases support this year’s programming.

Download Today's Podcast Transcript

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club

BONUS LIST: These Social Horror Books Will Make You Think

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club

One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon

When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

The Warehouse by Rob Hart

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Blackout by Nicola Yoon, Angie Thomas & more

Whiteout by Nicola Yoon, Dhonielle Clayton & more

Joy Revolution Books

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Nicola Yoon on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

BONUS SERIAL KILLER BOOK LIST

Digital Dating Turns Deadly in This Debut Murder Mystery May 24, 2024

L.M. Chilton reveals his surprising dating history that inspired his debut thriller, Swiped.

After nearly a decade and 212 failed dates, L.M. Chilton channeled his dating frustrations into Swiped, a fresh debut murder mystery exploring the darker side of online dating cleverly crafted for the millennial reader. Today, we discuss his personal story and journalism efforts to uncover the truth behind the algorithms.

But his book isn't the only thing with plot twists. His decision to go on one last date revealed a real-life plot twist you'll love discovering.

Patrons can dive into a bonus spoiler episode with the Swiped ending, where Chilton discusses his favorite red herrings and killer reveal.

BONUS BOOK LIST: I've partnered with Larry on this week's book list, which offers 30 Fictional Serial Killer Books to Read Now! Whether you crave compelling psychological thrillers or enjoy a touch of the campy and macabre, there's a perfect book for you.

Meet L.M. Chilton

L.M. Chilton has been a journalist for 15 years, working for TV shows like This Morning, The One Show, and Loose Women, as well as magazines and newspapers such as The Times, The Mirror, Metro, New!, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour.

He started his journalism career writing for 'real life' magazines, interviewing people worldwide about the terrifying, hilarious, and heart-breaking things that had happened to them. And also funny things their pets had done.

He works from home in London, thinking of twists for murder mysteries and practicing the banjo instead of writing (much to the annoyance of his neighbors).

Mentioned in this episode:

BONUS SUMMER CONTENT:

Summer reading season is in full swing. Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like Swiped. All purchases support this year's programming.

Swiped by L.M. Chilton

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Swiped by L.M. Chilton

Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with L.M. Chilton on his Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Support the Show With a Tip on Buy Me a Coffee

2024 Summer Reading Guide May 17, 2024

The 2024 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide includes 35 titles, offering upcoming releases, new releases, and backlist gems.

Grab your favorite summer beverage and settle in for this year's summer reading guide, which includes 35 beautiful book selections for your summer.

After carefully reviewing eighty books for this season, I've tried to offer some expected and unexpected picks, from the campy to the compelling. Today, I'm sharing more about this year's summer author series and a few of my favorite novels I've included.

Browse the 2024 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide (with ads) or receive the 27-page printable guide ($7) to support our show. If you are a show patron, check your inbox for your copy as part of your member benefits- thank you for supporting my small business!

Editor's Note: We have switched from Bookshop.org to direct sales with each bookshop featured today to ensure they keep every penny of the profit.

Connect With Me:

Buy the 2024 MomAdvice Reading Guide

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

The Best Backlist Books for Summer May 10, 2024

This special crossover episode with The Reader's Couch offers five backlist books for your summer and what it takes to nail a great summer reading guide.

Today's episode features Victoria Wood from The Reader's Couch podcast. I asked Victoria to bring her best backlist book treasures from her past summer reading guides that deserve far more attention. From historical mysteries to a heartwarming culinary memoir to stories of found family- this stack should elevate your summer reading experience and, likely, be available on your library shelves now.

As we plan to release our 2024 summer reading guides next week, we discuss insights into crafting the ultimate summer reading guide year after year, how a book qualifies to be featured, and the most significant challenges and rewards of executing seasonal guides for readers.

Meet Victoria Wood (The Reader's Couch Podcast)

Victoria Wood hosts The Reader's Couch Podcast. She is a reading enthusiast who has successfully guided self-proclaimed "non-readers" into cultivating and sustaining reading habits and assisted readers in fostering more intentional and fulfilling reading lives. She hosts conversations with authors to learn more about their writing and reading lives.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon helps this show remain independent and on air for $5 a month. You will gain access to our 2024 MomAdvice Book Club, the FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more!

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Book

Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha

Sign-Up for Victoria's Summer Reading Guide

Browse the 2023 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide

Browse the 2022 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide

Get Victoria's 2024 Summer Reading Guide

Get Amy's 2024 Summer Reading Guide (be sure you are signed up for my email list to get this sent to your inbox!)

James by Percival Everett

One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon

@getbookedwithlarry

The Great Mistake by Jonathan Lee

The Layers of Adult Friendships Podcast (Victoria & Amy in Conversation)

All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle

Matt Cain's Publishing Journey

The Lost Boys of Montauk by Amanda M. Fairbanks

Morningside Heights by Joshua Henkin

Home Made by Liz Hauck

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Victoria Wood on The Reader's Couch Podcast, Instagram, or Bibliolifestyle

What Jeff Zentner Brings to the Romance World Apr 26, 2024

Jeff Zentner discusses the inspiration for his emotional adult debut romance novel Colton Gentry's Third Act, which celebrates food, music, and second chances.

Celebrated young adult novelist Jeff Zentner returns to our space to discuss his transition from writing young adult books to his surprising new release—a romance debut for adults called Colton Gentry's Third Act.

We discuss the critical differences between writing for adults and young adults, the romantic book that inspired Jeff's plot, and the feedback Emily Henry provided to shape his romance scenes.

Jeff also talks about the emotional impact of his writing on Gen-Z readers and the connection he has found through his school tours across the country.

Be sure to stick around to the end to get Jeff's second chance love story recommendations!

To accompany today’s show, I have a Second Chance Romance Novels book list to celebrate 19 beautiful new beginnings and second chances.

Meet Jeff Zentner

Jeff Zentner is the author of New York Times Notable Books The Serpent King and In the Wild Light, as well as Goodbye Days, Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee, and his forthcoming debut for the adult market, Colton Gentry's Third Act and a YA novel in verse, Sunrise Nights, coauthored with Brittany Cavallaro.

Among other honors, he has won the ALA’s William C. Morris Award, the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award twice, the Muriel Becker Award, the International Literacy Association Award, and been longlisted twice for the Carnegie Medal.

He’s a two-time Southern Book Prize finalist; and was a finalist for the Indies Choice Award. He was selected as a Publishers Weekly Flying Start and an Indies Introduce pick. His books have been translated into fifteen languages. Before becoming a writer, he was a musician who recorded with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Debbie Harry. He lives in Nashville.

Colton Gentry's Third Act is his adult debut romance.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Book

19 Second Chance Romance Books for Summer (NEW BOOK LIST)

Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives with Heart

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton

Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

Serpent King tattoo

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Normal People

One Day by David Nicholls

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Before Sunrise Trilogy

Sunrise Nights by Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro

Hello Girls by Emily Henry and Brittany Cavallaro

The Best Jeff Zentner Books

Connect With Us:

Connect with Jeff Zentner on his Website or Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Surprising Truths About Grief With Amy Lin (Here After) Apr 19, 2024

Amy Lin discusses her emotional debut memoir Here After. We discuss her surprising revelations about the grief process and better steps to show up for grievers.

In our fear of saying the wrong thing, we often don't get to engage in essential conversations like the one we share today. Amy Lin, author of Here After, joins the Book Gang podcast to discuss her powerful memoir on grief and loss and what she wants you to understand about young widowhood.

Here After Book Summary

Lin never expected to find a love like the one she shared with her husband, Kurtis, a gifted young architect who pulls her toward joy, adventure, and greater self-acceptance. But thirty-two-year-old Kurtis unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind Amy, who struggled to navigate the loss while simultaneously confronting a life-threatening medical crisis.

This sparse memoir was handcrafted for grievers as Amy shares the painstaking process down to margin, white space, and book size to give readers both space and understanding of her grief experience.

More importantly, she offers life-altering advice on our falsehoods about grief, from the misconceptions around grief timelines to what we shouldn't say to those experiencing loss. After hearing Amy's sage advice today,I promise you will be a better friend, sister, daughter, or mother after listening to this conversation.

To accompany today's show, I have a Books On Grief and Loss book list with fiction and nonfiction selections for adult and young readers.

I've also gathered a curated collection of grief quotes from these books that speak to this universal experience in comforting ways to give words to this experience. I hope you feel both seen and loved today's series.

Meet Amy Lin

Amy Lin is a writer and educator who lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her work has been published in Ploughshares, and she has been awarded residencies from Yaddo and Casa Comala.Here After is her debut novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Book

Books on Grief and Loss Book List

Grief Quotes From Books

A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney

Here After by Amy Lin

Zibby Books

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy Lin on Instagram, Substack, or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

The Magic of Old Hollywood Podcast Episode with Amy and Molly Fader

New Historical Fiction To Read in 2024 Apr 12, 2024

This special crossover episode with Thoughts from a Page offers five new historical fiction books in 2024 to read now of compelling women throughout history.

Cindy Burnett, the host of the Thoughts from a Page podcast, joins our show in this special crossover episode to discuss her favorite new historical fiction books for 2024 that readers will love.

We discuss the most memorable books we read when we first began exploring this genre, the upcoming publishing trends for this year in historical fiction, and common misconceptions (and gripes) on what we feel is essential in a fantastic historical fiction book selection.

Cindy brings five incredible novels featuring powerful narratives exploring accounts of remarkable women throughout history. We know you will love reading these this Spring!

Meet Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page Podcast)

Cindy Burnett hosts the Thoughts from a Page Podcast where she engages in compelling author interviews and discussions with industry professionals. Beyond her podcast, she actively promotes books through social media, writes columns for The Buzz Magazines, contributes monthly reviews to Bookreporter.com, and co-creates Conversations from a Page—an author event series in Houston.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including access to our 2024 MomAdvice Book Club, the FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more!

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Meet Our New Book Gang

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Miss Del Rio by Barbara Mujica

The Editor by Stephen Rowley

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

The Women by Kristin Hannah

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

The Queen of Sugar Hill by Reshonda Tate

The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader

The Best Books About Old Hollywood to Get Swept Away

The Best New Historical Fiction of 2023 (In Case You Missed It)

Reel by Kennedy Ryan

Cindy’s episode with Reshonda Tate

This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process Podcast

The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Firefly Lane TV Series

The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Cindy Burnett on Thoughts from a Page Podcast, Instagram, or the Thoughts from a Page website.

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Meet the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books

The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives With Heart Mar 29, 2024

Kennedy Ryan discusses her rise to the NYT bestseller list as a Black romance writer with moving advocacy for autism representation in This Could Be Us.

There is a reason everyone wants to be a part of Kennedy Ryan’s story—her joy is infectious.

Today, we offer listeners a front-row seat to her romance Booktok fandom, sold-out book tours, and moving victory as a Black romance writer on the New York Times bestseller list.

Ryan openly discusses her connection to the autism community and the beauty and challenge of capturing that on a page for the reader in her latest novel. Representing autism authentically meant the writer took surprising steps to ensure an accurate and respectful portrayal of family life in This Could Be Us.

Readers will get a 2-for-1 conversation as we also discuss the rerelease of Reel and details on the upcoming books in the Hollywood Renaissance series.

Learn what it means to be a hybrid author and her commitment to immersive research, ensuring her stories resonate authentically with readers no matter where you find her stories.

Bonus Book List:

Today’s BONUS book celebrates Autism Acceptance Month! I've featured 13 books with autistic characters filled with heartwarming love stories, mystery, and family drama.

The list features many #ownvoices books, including the authors' diagnosis stories and the characters they developed to offer readers insights into their journeys. As a parent in the community, I hope I've crafted a list that will allow you to immerse yourself in these stories.

Meet Kennedy Ryan

USA Today's bestselling author and Audie Award-winner, Kennedy Ryan, writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. The co-founder of Lift 4 Autism, an annual charitable book auction, she has a passion for raising Autism awareness. Kennedy is a wife to her "lifetime lover" and mother to an extraordinary son.

Mentioned in this episode:

Browse This Week's Book List Featuring #OwnVoices for Autism Acceptance Month

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

The Unseen World by Liz Moore

LOGAN Autism Center

The Autism Books by Autistic Authors Database

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Life 4 Autism

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

Reel by Kennedy Ryan

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Kennedy Ryan on Instagram, Tiktok, or her Website

Get the Kindle Daily Deals Newsletter

The Best Prime Reading Guide (10 FREE Books for March)

Trapped in a Time Loop Mar 15, 2024

In today's podcast, escape in a time loop novel. We discuss Groundhog Day books and the comforting ways repeating time travel can charm us in our book stack.

When we say "time loop," readers immediately react to this statement. Whether it is a no or a yes, Jessica and I have you covered in today's podcast.

We discuss why repeating cycles of events work for us or don't and how some of the storytellers featured today nailed moving the time loop plot forward in new ways.

Plus, I'm revealing a treasure trove of new time travel resources, including new time travel books, TV, and movies you can stream this weekend to explore a new world that won't break the bank.

Our incredible super-expansion pack of time travel adventures is linked to today's show notes. These include a massive refresh on new time travel books, alternate realities, parallel lives, and explorations of parallel worlds and the multiverse.

I hope it brings unlimited joy to your weekend, as was the intention of this creator who lovingly created these spaces for you.

Meet Jessica Bearak

Jessica is a lifelong book lover who embarked on her literary journey at three, immersing herself in childhood classics like “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “The Phantom Tollbooth."

Jessica actively participates in two in-person book clubs and many online discussions regularly. She has been an invaluable member of the MomAdvice Book Club and joins us as a regular contributing voice.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW Reading Resources: (AS PROMISED!):

Time Loop Books Giant Book List (14 Book Ideas)

Books About Parallel Universes and Multiverse Book List (13 Book Ideas)

Books About Alternate Realities or Parallel Lives You Will Love (12 Book Ideas)

New Time Travel Books to Escape Real Life (20 Book Ideas)

Better Than the Movies Movie List (FREE PRINTABLE)

The Best Time Travel TV & Movies Streaming List (NEW)

Best Lynn Painter Books (The Ultimate Guide)

Other Show Mentions:

The Mindful Librarian Substack

The Unseen World by Liz Moore

The Couch With Mary Carver Podcast

Totally Killer on Prime

Quantum Leap (1989-1993)

Quantum Leap reboot

Sarah Adler’s Podcast Episode

11/22/63 by Stephen King

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

Blake Crouch

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen

Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen

Alex Awards

If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon

The Do Over by Lynn Painter

The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch

Blaine for the Win by Robbie Couch

Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter

The Deja Glitch by Holly James

Through the Snow Globe by Annie Rains

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas

The Possibilities by Yael Goldstein-Love

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

The Best Lessons From Time Travel Books

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect With Jessica on Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process Mar 01, 2024

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Faceout Studio book designer Elisha Zepeda as he takes us on a journey from working in a bookstore to navigating his first year in book cover design.

Elisha navigates the challenges of cover rejection through a unique avenue- his TikTok account, where readers can discuss the rejected and accepted designs with him.

Today he shares what he sees as emerging trend in cover design and the struggles he’s faced with everything from font selection to breaking out of the “girl turning away” cover that we can’t seem to escape from as readers.

If you are entertaining a self-publishing journey, Elisha shares valuable tips on communication, budgeting, and bringing your visions to life in your book covers.

We couldn’t have him on the show and not discuss his recommendations for some standout covers that have captured his imagination and hear more about his process of honoring an author’s work through unique details that created reverence for the person who spent months or even years on their books.

Meet Elisha Zepeda

Elisha is a book designer for Faceout Studio in Oregon. He documents his publishing journey on his Tiktok account, where readers can see how his book designs evolve from concept to final product.

When not designing books, he is writing/recording music, toying with a film camera, or defending the merits of decaf over regular coffee. You can view his portfolio on his website, where he curates his work.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Book Gang Patreon-This provides valuable financial support to my show. You will also receive our FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, a 30-page monthly newsletter, and access to our monthly Zoom book club.

The Mindful Librarian Substack

The Unseen World by Liz Moore

Faceout Studio

Browse Elisha's Entire Portfolio

Dudley's Bookshop

The Best Libby App Tips and Tricks

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

Cities of Women by Kathleen B. Jones

The Woman with a Purple Heart by Diane Hanks

Bluff by Michael Kardos

Shake It Up, Baby! by Ken McNab

Criterion Collection Posters

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

Rodrigo Corral

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou

Bad Thoughts by Nada Alic

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Subscribe to my FREE Happy List Newsletter

Connect With Elisha on His Website or Tiktok

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

How Shark Heart Transformed Emily Habeck and Her Readers Feb 16, 2024

Emily Habeck discusses her widely imaginative debut novel, Shark Heart, and how this writing project transformed her life and the lives of her readers.

It's no secret that Shark Heartwas my favorite debut of the year, and today's meaningful author conversation only solidified this moving reading experience.

We discuss the unusual overlap to our love stories and the other surprising emotional connections readers have made to this imagined world.

Emily's success in literary fiction was a surprise, but the reason for her jump from screenplay writing to a novel may surprise you with how she ended up here.

Drawing from her theatrical background, Habeck shares more about her unique story structure and how magical realism can still offer the reader a grounded experience.

Discover today's BONUS BOOK LIST with 29 of the best magical realism books for your book stack this month.

Emily joins our patron space to discuss the Shark Heart ending with surprising candidness on some of this story's more unusual paths she chose, but even more so, the ways she DIDN’T decide to go to get to this book’s ending.

You will receive this episode AND today's book list as a thank you for supporting my show.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Best Debut Novels of 2023

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

The Candy House by Jennifer Egan

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

Connect With Us:

Subscribe to my FREE Happy List Newsletter

Connect With Emily on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

The Most Unique Only One Bed Moments in Romance Feb 02, 2024

Sarah Adler discusses writing her quirky debut novel Mrs. Nash's Ashes and her favorite memorable "only one bed" moments in romance.

Sarah Adler didn’t know she was writing a romance book when she started her novel. She wasn’t even a romance reader. All of that changed, though, when she wrote Mrs. Nash’s Ashes, her debut romance novel.

Today, Sarah Adler provides a behind-the-scenes look into her publishing journey, recounting the rollercoaster ride of rejections, what it is like to have a novel go to auction, and what this book taught her about identity that she was surprised to uncover through her characters.

Sarah’s “only one bed” scene I now count among my favorite romance moments, and we discuss her favorite books that uniquely capture this dilemma and why this has become such a beloved romance trope for readers.

Don’t miss today's BONUS BOOK LIST, which includes The Best One Bed Trope Books for Romance Lovers. Patrons of our show will receive a printable version of today’s book list as a thank you for your support!

Sarah Adler writes romantic comedies about lovable weirdos finding their happily ever afters. She lives in Maryland with her husband and daughter and spends an inordinate amount of her time yelling at her mischievous cat to stop opening the kitchen cabinets.

Mentioned in this episode:

Paint by Number Jesus Art

Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan

The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church

Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler

You by Caroline Kepnes

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

Mrs. Nash’s Ashes Playlist

The WAVES Program in World War II

New Orleans Rush by Kelly Siskind

A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare

A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

Comic Absurdity and Deep Emotion: PW Talks with Tessa Dare

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

Beth O'Leary | 'I wrote almost all the book on the train...'

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Happy Medium by Sarah Adler

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Sarah on Instagram, on Substack, or on Her Website

Subscribe to my FREE Happy List Newsletter

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Let's Head to Art School With These Amazing Books Jan 19, 2024

The Best Books About Art & Artists to Read Now

Head to art school with debut novelist Antonia Angress today. We discuss the inspiration for her debut novel, Sirens & Muses, which one of our best debuts of 2023.

If you have ever dreamed of attending art school, you will want to tune in to today's discussion and fictional art book stack.

Today, we are joined by debut novelist Antonia Angress as she shares her inspiration for Sirens & Muses and how pursuing an MFA program allowed her the time and resources to finally pivot from a career in teaching to her dream of writing.

Angress shares the surprising discovery that her novel, set during the financial crisis of the 2010s, has been deeply meaningful for Gen Z readers as they also face their own uncertainty and disillusionment.

We also discuss how success in the art world is often influenced by class, making it inaccessible to marginalized groups, and what we can learn from adding characters from different wealth spectrums to her dialogue to showcase the scarcity of artistic resources for many students.

Check out this BONUS LIST of 27 book titles that include the best books about art and artists for your month. Patrons receive a printable version of today's checklist as a thank you!

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including our monthly FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more!

Meet the NEW 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books

Bluff by Michael Kardos

The Best Fiction Books of 2023

The Best Debut Novels of 2023 to Not Miss

Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress

Sirens & Muses Book Club Guide & Cocktail Recipe

Life Drawing by Robin Black

Self-Portrait with Boy by Rachel Lyon

Zoe Kravitz & Thomas McKenzie to Lead Mona Fastvold’s Psychological Horror “Self-Portrait”

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

“The Masterpiece:” NYC's Grand Central as One of the Stars

The Fiona Davis Interview You Need to Hear

My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

Fake Like Me by Barbara Bourland

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect With Antonia Angress on Instagram or Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

The Best Books of 2023 Jan 06, 2024

Cue the confetti! This week's episode shares the top fifteen books we have read this year after screening HUNDREDS of books.

This discussion includes the best fiction books of 2023 and some of our favorite backlist books we were thrilled to discover this year. There is TRULY something for everyone.

We invite you to browse today's bonus book list featuring our favorites. Larry also offers an incredible expanded list for your reading life. Patrons will receive a printable checklist with today's book titles and some of our honorable mentions.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Meet Our New Book Gang Jan 04, 2024

Meet MY new book gang collaboration with Victoria from The Reader's Couch Podcast and Cindy from Thoughts from a Page Podcast, as we embark on a new reading journey together.

I'm thrilled to bring you a special pop-up episode announcing a fabulous new collaboration for the upcoming year. I couldn't be more excited to team up with my bookish friends, Victoria from The Reader's Couch Podcast and Cindy from Thoughts from a Page Podcast, as we embark on our own little book gang adventure.

These incredible hosts share my love for reading and authors. Today we dive into how this love for reading began and take a behind-the-scenes look at how our communities started.

You'll also get a sneak peek at our favorite reads of the year and the upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

Through this partnership, you can expect to hear us regularly on each other's podcasts, discussing our favorite books and delving into all the reading-related fun that fuels our shows and passions.

It is SO beautiful when women lift each other up, and I hope you feel that excitement today through this new collaboration effort.

Meet Victoria Wood (The Reader's Couch Podcast)

Meet Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page Podcast)

Cindy Burnett hosts the Thoughts from a Page Podcast where she engages in compelling author interviews and discussions with industry professionals. Beyond her podcast, she actively promotes books through social media, writes columns for The Buzz Magazines, contributes monthly reviews to Bookreporter.com, and co-creates Conversations from a Page—an author event series in Houston.

Mentioned in this episode:

Bluff by Michael Kardos

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene

Trixie Belden The Secret of the Mansion by Julie Campbell

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Six Months to Live by Lurlene McDaniel

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Enid Blyton

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Turn of the Screw by Henry James

The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos

Homecoming by Kate Morton

I Could Live Here Forever by Hannah Halperin

The Last Word by Taylor Adams

The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez

Real Americans by Rachel Khong

Goodbye Vitamin by Rachel Khong

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

There There by Tommy Orange

The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones

My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

Northwoods by Amy Pease

The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Victoria Wood on The Reader's Couch Podcast, Instagram, or Bibliolifestyle

Connect with Cindy Burnett on Thoughts from a Page Podcast, Instagram, or the Thoughts from a Page website.

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

The Magic of Belonging in Found Family Books Dec 15, 2023

The 2023 MomAdvice Book Club Books (thank you to EVERY AUTHOR who participated!)

I’m thrilled to introduce you to our new contributor voice to the Book Gang podcast. Jessica Bearak is likely a familiar voice to you because she is such a loyal participant in so many book club spaces around the web.

It was such a treat to meet her IN PERSON earlier this year, and after having the best time discussing our books together, I asked if she could picture herself sharing the microphone with me. Learn more about Jessica’s reading life and the surprising destination I took her to when she visited that kickstarted our year together.

We brainstormed many fun ideas for the days ahead but knew we needed to start things off with a magical hook. What could be better to celebrate this occasion than a book stack filled with found family?

Today, we will dive into the concept of the found family trope and its significance in literature and our lives, especially around the holidays.

From insights from past guests to the trivia we discovered about some of our favorite beloved stories, there is something for everyone in today’s introductory episode. I hope you feel compelled to share this episode and support our new voice today.

Check out our BONUS “found family” book list that includes our favorite historical fiction, middle-grade novels, and even a dark psychological thriller with this theme.

EDITOR'S NOTE- Thank you to Lynda Cohen Loigman for the gorgeous chat on The Matchmaker's Gift (accidentally missing from this morning's intro!!)

Meet Jessica Bearak

Jessica is a lifelong book lover who embarked on her literary journey at three, immersing herself in childhood classics like "The Velveteen Rabbit" and "The Phantom Tollbooth."

Mentioned in this episode:

The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Announced

Found Family Trope Books to Read Now (BONUS BOOK LIST)

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler by E.L Konigsburg

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Mysterious Handprints by Donald J Sobol (includes the story Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Fighter Kite)

Public Library of Saint Joseph County

What Chosen Family Means and How to Build Your Own

Matt Cain’s Publishing Journey: The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle

The Magic of Old Hollywood Books

The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore

Best Books About Hollywood to Get Swept Away

Moloka’i by Alan Brennert

Daughter of Moloka’i by Alan Brennert

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

How to Use the Storygraph App For a Better Reading Life

2023 Summer Reading Guide

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Coyote Lost and Found by Dan Gemeinhart

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley

The Spectacular Life Lessons from Books About Road Trips

Mosquitoland by David Arnold

The Best Prime Reading Guide (FREE books, including The Second Life of Mirielle West)

Amy’s Interview with Nathaniel Ian Miller

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect With Jessica on Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

JOIN THE 2024 MomAdvice Book Club

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Announced (Part 2) Dec 01, 2023

Join us in Part 2 of the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club as we unveil the second half of our carefully curated book selections and how to join!

Cue the confetti! I'm hosting my first backlist book club year in honor of my 20th year as an online creator, and I would be HONORED to have you join me on this journey.

This year's offerings include backlist books from 1979 up to 2022! Some of these are new favorites, while others are books I have wanted to discuss for years.

Won't it be so fun to revisit some of our favorite books over the years?

Please visit the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Guide to access today's selections with full descriptions of each book and how to join.

Connect With Me:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

JOIN THE 2024 MomAdvice Book Club

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Announced (Part 1) Dec 01, 2023

Join us in Part 1 of the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club as we unveil the first half of our carefully curated book selections and how to join!

Cue the confetti! I'm hosting my first backlist book club year in honor of my 20th year as an online creator, and I would be HONORED to have you join me on this journey.

This year's offerings include backlist books from 1979 up to 2022! Some of these are new favorites, while others are books I have wanted to discuss for years.

Won't it be so fun to revisit some of our favorite books over the years?

Please visit the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Guide to access today's selections with full descriptions of each book and how to join.

Connect With Me:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

The Best Reading Hacks for Chronic Pain Nov 10, 2023

2023 MomAdvice Fall Reading Guide

Chronic pain shouldn't stop you from living your best reading life. A registered osteopath shares her surprising tips for a cozy winter reading season.

Does the perfect reading chair exist? How do I maintain a good reading posture? And what book format is best for someone who has chronic pain problems?

The answers might surprise you in this special winter reading episode dedicated to anyone navigating chronic pain challenges.

Today's podcast will help you create the perfect cozy reading space while acknowledging the additional challenges you might face, especially during winter.

This week's remarkable guest is Alexandra Orfanides, a registered osteopath, the creative mind behind Hypermobility HQ on TikTok, and the host of Help! I’m Hypermobile Podcast.

With her wealth of experience in the medical space, Alex shares insights on the best ways to give your body TRUE rest when reading.

As a bonus, Alex shares a touching personal connection to literature and discusses her recent challenges with connecting to books. To kick start her reading life up again, I'm providing three book recommendations to reignite her passion for literature.

BONUS COZY READING GUIDE

Check out our bonus Cozy Reading Guide featuring all the products recommended by Alex and essential items that have personally helped me navigate my health challenges while reading.

Meet Alex

Alexandra Orfanides brings her expertise as an osteopath with a Master's degree in Osteopathy and a Bachelor's degree in English language and literature. This unique combination couldn’t have been more perfect for today’s show.

Alex offers in-person and virtual consultations to patients. She hosts the new podcast "Help! I'm Hypermobile," and uses her various platforms to raise awareness about hypermobility to help her community navigate daily challenges.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including our monthly FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more!

Cozy Reading With Chronic Pain Guide (links to all the products featured)

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester

Watch Alex's Towel Trick on TikTok

Dysautonomia

Animation tablet

Penguin upright mouse

Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

The Ladies Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers - solar punk

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances by Ruth Emmie Lange

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Alex on Instagram, Tiktok, her Podcast, or Website

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Beautiful Lessons from a Book Club for Inmates Oct 27, 2023

2023 MomAdvice Fall Reading Guide

Celebrate the feel-good moments and literary achievements of the Second Chance Book Club for inmates and their tireless leader, Jennifer Williams.

Join us for a heartwarming Book Gang podcast episode as we meet Jennifer, the "book lady" of Danville, VA, changing incarcerated women's lives through the Second Chance Book Club.

Today, we explore the logistics and challenges of running an incarcerated book club and the incredible rewards that Jennifer has witnessed in their participants.

Plus, Jennifer shares three of her favorite backlist book club books. Get book recommendations and learn how you can help support this incredible initiative.

If you would love to be a part of her literary legacy, head to her holiday gift registry to donate books for their prison book club. The inmates get to keep the books they read, and Jennifer highlights the incredible ways reading helps as they move on to their next chapter in life.

BONUS BOOK CLUB BOOK LIST:

Thanks to the support of Patreon members, listeners have access to a bonus curated list of the best book club books to discuss now created by historical fiction writer Meagan Church.

It was such a fantastic book list that we have updated this with Jennifer's book club books she recommends for impactful conversations.

Meet Jennifer Williams

Jennifer Williams, the "book lady" of Danville, Virginia, is on a mission to donate 1 million books to local children. A dedicated teacher, she is working two jobs to fund her initiative.

Jennifer's commitment extends to running a women's book club at the Danville Jail, where members have become avid readers.

Her work has garnered community support and recognition for its positive influence in her town. We are proud to support this literary hero on the podcast today.

Mentioned in this episode:

Second Chance Book Club Gift Registry- PLEASE Donate a Book

The Best Book Club Books to Discuss Now (BONUS BOOK LIST)

Meet the ‘Book Lady’. She’s determined to donation 1 million books to Virginia kids

Jennifer on the Today Show

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit

If the Creek Don’t Rise by Leah Weiss

All the Little Hopes by Leah Weiss

The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens

Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens

Murphy’s Boy by Torey Hayden

Trapped in Silence

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with the Second Chance Book Club on Facebook

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Matt Cain's Publishing Journey: The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle Oct 13, 2023

2023 MomAdvice Fall Reading Guide

Matt Cain discusses the challenging history in publishing for LGBTQ History Month. Discover the inspiration for his book, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle.

We are giving listeners a peek behind the paywall to share one of my favorite interviews of 2023 in honor of LGBTQ History Month.

Join us as we delve into the captivating world of renowned author Matt Cain, as we celebrate his charming novel, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle.

Beyond discussing his book, Matt opens up about the immense publishing challenges he faced, most notably with The Madonna of Bolton, a novel rejected more than 30 times for being deemed 'too gay.'

Discover how it evolved into one of the fastest crowdfunded projects on Unbound after Matt courageously unveiled his rejection letters to the world, and how he views the publishing world now.

We'll also explore the genre of UpLit, its key markers, and what to expect in UpLit books. The answer might surprise you!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Best Books for LGBTQ History Month (BONUS BOOK LIST- UPDATED!)

Celebrate LGBTQ History With This Curated Stack- Jeffrey Dale Lofton Interview

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain

What is Uplit?

Madonna of Bolton by Matt Cain

Becoming Ted by Matt Cain

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Attitude Magazine

Attitude Heroes Podcast

The Albert Kennedy Trust

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

Eleanor Elephant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

POV: Albert's First Night Out Playlist

Becoming Ted Playlist

Shirley Valentine

Magic Season by Wade Rouse

Amy’s interview with Wade Rouse

My Policeman by Bethan Roberts

Matt’s Graham Norton interview

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Amy’s Interview with Lynda Cohen Loigman

Matzah Book Soup Book Club

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Matt Cain on Instagram or on his Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Celebrate LGBTQ History Month With This Curated Stack Sep 29, 2023

2023 MomAdvice Fall Reading Guide

Debut novelist and senior advisor to the Library of Congress, Jeffrey Dale Lofton, discusses identity and self-discovery for LGBTQ History Month in October.

Jeffrey Dale Lofton is one of the most intriguing voices I've read this year, and I count his debut among my favorites of 2023.

Join us on an inspiring journey as we sit down with Jeffrey Dale Lofton, the talented debut author behind Red Clay Suzie a fictional memoir that delves into the depths of identity, self-discovery, and the journey of growing up as a gay boy in the Deep South.

In this intimate conversation, Lofton shares his personal experiences that shaped this remarkable narrative, the challenges of navigating his own identity, and the power of storytelling to bridge understanding, especially in the LGBTQ community.

As a senior advisor to the Library of Congress, Lofton brings a unique perspective to literature and history. Be sure to tune in to the second half of our conversation to discover his top book recommendations for LGBTQ History Month.

Don’t miss this week’s bonus book list- The Best Books for LGBTQ History Month!

This list includes fiction and nonfiction books on queer history.

Meet Jeffrey Dale Lofton

Jeffrey Dale Lofton transitioned from a career in acting to pursue post-graduate studies, earning Master's degrees in Public Administration & Library and Information Science.

Currently, he serves as a senior advisor at the Library of Congress, indulging in his love for books.

Originally from Warm Springs, Georgia, the author now resides in Washington, DC.

Red Clay Suzie is his debut novel and was longlisted for The Center for Fiction 2023 First Novel Prize.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Best Books for LGBTQ History Month (BONUS BOOK LIST)

Red Clay Suzie by Jeffrey Dale Lofton

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

And I Do Not Forgive You by Amber Sparks

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Call Me by Your Name by Andre Aciman

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

The Best Libby App Tips & Tricks

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

Pete Cross, Audio Book Narrator

The Born This Way Foundation

The Trevor Project

LGBTQ History Month

How to Survive A Plague by David France

My Government Means to Kill Me by Rasheed Newson

Rasheed Newson’t Debut Novel Retells the Early Years of AIDS in New York City

The Other Pandemic by Lynn Curlee

Short Film Starring My Beloved’s Red Bronco by K. Iver

Who is This Grief For?

The Center for Fiction 2023 First Novel Prize Longlist

This post contains affiliate links. Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Jeffrey on Instagram or his Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Best Motherhood Lessons from Literary Characters Sep 15, 2023

MomAdvice Fall Reading Guide

Celebrate literary lessons found in books about mothers! Adele Griffin shares her riveting surrogacy story in her debut and how these characters shaped her story.

Adele Griffin knew something had been missing from her fiction for a long time.

Although she knew it was missing, she admits that it took her years to process and refine this motherhood journey into her adult fiction debut, The F a vor.

In this moving conversation, we discuss her riveting surrogacy journey and what writers have gotten wrong when writing about this deeply personal partnership. It is a profound bond that can have lifelong impacts on all parties involved, but the author’s challenge was packaging it lightly for a reader like her.

As a seasoned author of over thirty books, she describes her unique challenges and hurdles in writing adult voices and, ultimately, the literary mothers who shaped this story, and how she viewed motherhood.

In one of the most eclectic stacks brought to our show, we will discover surprising trivia behind some well-known classics and contemporary literature that brings modern motherhood issues to light.

Bonus Books About Mothers Book List:

Today's BONUS BOOK LIST explores The Best Page Turners About Motherhood to Read Now.

This book list includes Adele’s fiction, nonfiction, and memoir selections. I’ve rounded out this stack with the most compelling books I’ve read on motherhood.

And if you want to dive into Adele's page-turning plot twists, you will love today's bonus. Patrons get an additional SPOILER-FILLED episode with Adele, discussing three pivotal moments in her book's ending.

Meet Adele Griffin

Adele Griffin is the author of over thirty highly acclaimed books across various genres, including Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, both National Book Award finalists.

The Favor is her adult fiction debut.

Mentioned in this episode:

2023 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide

True Biz by Sara Novic

The Favor by Adele Griffin

Adele’s Pinterest Board

The Kingdom of Prep by Maggie Bullock

Vampire Island Series by Adele Griffin

Witch Twins Series by Adele Griffin

All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Meg Shaffer Interview (The Wishing Game)

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

10 Fascinating Facts About Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women

Waiting for Daisy by Peggy Orenstein

Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott

Some Assembly Required by Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott, Who Wrote the ‘Operating Instructions’ on Motherhood Tackles the Sequel

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Little Fires Everywhere Trailer

Guide to the Celeste Ng Books

Celeste Ng: The WD Interview

Hello Beautiful by Anne Napolitano

You’ll Never Guess What Anne Napolitano Was Doing When Oprah Called

The Celebrity Book Club Deep Dive Episode You Need

The Best Page Turners About Motherhood to Read Now

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Adele on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Remarkable Murder Mystery Book That Changed Everything Sep 01, 2023

Miss Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries

Dreaming of writing a murder mystery book? Listen to the inspiring story of a mother and daughter who crafted their whodunit amidst a cancer diagnosis. Today Nina Simon discusses her debut novel, “Mother-Daughter Murder Night.”

How does a former NASA engineer make the shift to murder mystery writer?

In this fascinating Book Gang episode, we sit down with the talented Nina Simon to uncover the remarkable journey behind her debut novel, Mother-Daughter Murder Night.

When Nina's mother battled stage 4 cancer in late 2020, it prompted her to leave her CEO position and care for her.

Amidst the challenges, Nina and her mother found solace in their shared love for murder mysteries, leading them to write a mystery book of their own to keep them busy during their long days in the hospital room.

Today, we explore the authenticity of mother-daughter relationships portrayed in the story and the intricate balance between land conservation and community tensions depicted in her novel’s narrative.

We also discuss the therapeutic power of creativity, courage, and resilience that emerged through the act of storytelling bonding Nina and her mother during this challenging period.

THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL BONUS BOOK LIST- THE 2023 FALL READING GUIDE

Looking for the best new fall books? Don't miss the MomAdvice Fall Reading Guide with 37 new books for fall. Read the guide for free or join the paid community for the 26-page printable version.

Patrons can follow Nina to our spoiler-filled bonus conversation to discuss the killer AND if a Mother-Daughter Murder Night sequel is in the works for the writer. Don't miss the fun!

Meet Nina Simon

Nina Simon has donned numerous hats throughout her journey, from being a NASA engineer and slam poet to a mystery game designer, exhibit developer, museum director, and founder of a global nonprofit.

Her career has predominantly unfolded within the realm of museums and cultural centers, earning her recognition as a "museum visionary" by Smithsonian Magazine due to her community-centered design approach.

As an Ashoka fellow, she established OF/BY/FOR ALL, a worldwide nonprofit that crafts digital tools empowering civic and cultural entities to embrace inclusivity, relevance, and sustainability.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nina lives with her husband and daughter in an off-grid community in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Mother-Daughter Murder Night is her debut novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon gives you access to the 2023 Fall Reading Guide printable and a bonus episode with Nina Simon. Get the September FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more!

Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Magic Lessons Podcast

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

The Kayak Connection

S. A. Cosby

Don’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor

Louise Penny

Inspector Gamache Series

Three Pines

David Joy

Nina’s Book Tour

2023 FALL READING GUIDE HERE

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and match 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Nina on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Fiona Davis Interview You Need to Hear Aug 18, 2023

MomAdvice Reading Retreat

Join us as Fiona Davis, the acclaimed author of seven historical fiction novels, delves into her latest historical fiction book, "The Spectacular," which immerses readers into the world of the legendary Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in the 1950s.

From surprising dance routines to the hidden life of the Rockettes, discover the secrets of this iconic dance troupe and how Fiona masterfully captures the essence of movement and history on the page.

Plus, learn the inside scoop on Fiona's new book she is writing, and what iconic New York City landmark she has selected for her next book destination.

Readers can access today a BONUS FIONA DAVIS BOOK LIST to browse all the Fiona Davis books in order and my recommendations for your best book stack.

BONUS PATREON SHOW:

Patreon Pals can access our bonus SPOILER episode that will delve deep into The Spectacular ending with the author.

Fiona masterfully crafted an emotional punch that caught me off guard. in this bonus episode, I had the privilege of asking Fiona why she chose this ending.

We also discuss why creatives must process things on paper and what she wants readers to learn from this protagonist's journey.

Meet Fiona Davis

Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of seven historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including The Spectacular, The Magnolia Palace, The Address, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her novels have been chosen as “One Book, One Community” reads and her articles have appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and O the Oprah magazine.

She first came to New York as an actress, but fell in love with writing after getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages and she's based in New York City.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

Rhonda Malkin

Vera-Ellen

Radio City Music Hall’s Secret Apartment

The Mad Bomber

Incendiary by Michael Cannell

The Novel Neighbor’s Looks as Books

The Favor by Adele Griffin

Blake Lively’s Met Gala dress

Sirens and Muses by Antonia Angress

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Fiona on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Best Sober Memoirs to Read Now Aug 04, 2023

Emily Lynn Paulson discusses her eye-opening memoir, Hey, Hun. Learn how rising to the top of an MLM led to her addiction and recovery in a pyramid scheme.

What is the most Googled fact about Emily Lynn Paulson?

At the time of this recording, roughly 125 people each month, likely after reading this memoir, ask this question- what MLM was Emily Paulson in?

Today we discuss why she chose a fictitious name for her beauty brand, and what she hopes it signals to the reader.

Join us in this eye-opening Book Gang episode with Emily Lynn Paulson, author of Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing.

Pulled into a high-pressure sales routine, Emily joins the #girlboss community for an MLM beauty brand.

Rising to the top of the MLM pyramid required Paulson never to take no for an answer and do anything to sit at the top.

As a result, Paulson achieves millionaire status, but it costs her the expense of loved ones, her sobriety, her health, and her moral compass.

Emily unveils the darker side of multi-level marketing companies and cult-like ideologies through her well-researched memoir. We also discuss how her relationship with alcohol has changed since this time and the unexpected joy of being sober.

If you want to dive deeper into the best books about addiction and recovery, we have you covered in the second part of our conversation.

Emily brings her favorite books, and discusses her best alcohol-free mocktails for your summer. We share our favorite sober memoir moments in today’s podcast conversation.

Today's BONUS BOOK LIST includes The Best Books on Addiction and Recovery for our summer series that share the magic of a sober life. This includes fiction, nonfiction, and memoir selections.

Meet Emily Lynn Paulson

Emily Lynn Paulson is an accomplished author known for her books "Highlight Real: Finding Honesty and Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life" and "Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing." Her impactful TEDx talks challenge parenting norms, alcohol use, and feminism. Featured in major publications like the Today Show, Tamron Hall Show, and the New York Times, Emily resides in Central Oregon with her husband and five children.

Mentioned in this episode:

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins Veldez

De Soi Non-Alcoholic Aperitifs

Hey, Hun by Emily Lynn Paulson

Hoplark

Amy’s Favorite Copper Mugs

Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction by Elizabeth Vargas

Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety by Laura McKowen

We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life by Laura McKowen

Drinking Games by Sarah Levy

Cup of Jo

It’s Not About the Wine: The Loaded Truth Behind the Mommy Wine Culture by Celeste Yvonne

The Ultimate Mom Challenge

Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating and Hooking Up Without the Booze by Tawny Lara

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Emily on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Magic of Old Hollywood Books Jul 21, 2023

Molly Fader discusses her remarkable historical fiction novel, The Sunshine Girls, and collection of Old Hollywood books as captivating as the silver screen.

If you have a nurse in your family, this show is dedicated to you! In today's episode of Book Gang, we have the pleasure of hosting Molly Fader, an award-winning author who wrote one of my favorite historical fiction novels this year, The Sunshine Girls.

The Sunshine Girls intricately weaves together the themes of three friends navigating nursing school, Hollywood adventures, and the Vietnam War in one delicious soapy escape.

Inspired by Molly's mother's nursing career in the 1960s, we delve deeper into the charming friendship story that overlapped with her mother's, as well as how she wanted to capture the traditional yet sometimes sexist aspects of nursing school with the contrasting opportunities for independence it offered to women in these careers.

Molly also addresses her unique writing experience under pen names, with over 50 romance novels published. If you are curious about series writing for Harlequin, she explains how this taught her to be a better writer while managing her larger-than-life role as a mom.

If you want to dive deeper into the best Old Hollywood book stack, we have you covered in the second part of our conversation. Molly is a seasoned reader of the golden age of Hollywood. From real-life movie stars to science fiction explorations in the film industry, you will find more than a few movie stars to love in your book stack today.

Today's BONUS BOOK LIST celebrates our favorite classic Hollywood moments in our fiction and nonfiction stacks, so don't miss this special list we have crafted for our summer series.

Meet Molly Fader

Molly Fader is the author of The McAvoy Sister’s Book Of Secrets. As Molly O’Keefe, she is the USA Today Bestselling author of over 50 contemporary romances. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, two kids, and a rescue dog.

Mentioned in this episode:

GET THE BEST BOOKS ABOUT OLD HOLLYWOOD BONUS BOOK LIST

The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader

Elizabeth A. Allen

When I Die I’m Going to Heaven ‘Cause I’ve Spent My Time in Hell by Barbara Kautz

Home Before Morning by Lynda Van Devanter

Molly O’Keefe

M. O’Keefe

The Petticoat Kid

Stuntman! by Hal Needham

Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts

The Greatest Showman

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Amy’s interview with Taylor Jenkins Reid

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid Writes Her Own Hollywood Success Story

Writing Nuanced Queer Protagonists: A Q&A with the Taylor Jenkins Reid

Tab Hunter

Tab Hunter Confidential by Tab Hunter

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Cleopatra

Interview: How Jess Walter Became a Bestselling Author

The Zero by Jess Walter

Citizen Vince by Jess Walter

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

Interview with an Author: Nghi Vo

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Molly on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Best Con Artist Queens in Literature Jul 07, 2023

Wendy Heard discusses her con artist book of the summer, You Can Trust Me. Learn what it takes to write a thriller & get our best books on scammers and cons.

It's our first thriller discussion of the summer. Join me in an enthralling conversation with renowned thriller author Wendy Heard as we dive deep into the world of thriller writing with her new release, You Can Trust Me.

Summer, a skilled pickpocket, takes Leo, a young woman living on the streets, under her wing, embarking on a dangerous con that quickly spirals out of control. Their target? An enigmatic billionaire named Michael.

But as they delve deeper, they uncover a startling revelation—Michael is not who he appears to be, putting both Summer and Leo in grave danger.

When Leo mysteriously disappears, Summer refuses to stand by idly. Determined to rescue her friend, she infiltrates Michael's private island, only to find herself trapped with no escape. As the suspense escalates, Summer realizes she may have met her match in this high-stakes page-turner.

Today we discuss why con artists are having a moment in pop culture on our screens and in our book stacks. In this absorbing interview, Wendy shares the art of crafting a riveting con artist sequence and why the four-act structure works so well in her writing process. We also discuss the challenges of juggling TWO book launches in one month and the differences between writing for a YA audience and adults.

If you want to dive deeper into the best con artist book stack, we have you covered in the second part of our conversation. Wendy brings her favorite con artist queens and shares why you should add these to your book stack too.

Today's BONUS BOOK LIST offers the best books with grifters, scam artists, heists, and cons. This book list includes Wendy's top picks and all my favorite con artist moments in fiction and nonfiction. Don't miss it!

Meet Wendy Heard

Wendy Heard is the author of suspense and thrillers for adults and teens, including We’ll Never Tell, The Kill Club, She's Too Pretty to Burn, and Dead End Girls. Her latest adult novel is You Can Trust Me. Heard has spent most of her life in Los Angeles, loves all things vintage, and has a collection of thrillers and adventure books from the ’80s.

Mentioned in this episode:

Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester

Breathe and Count Back From Ten Book Chat

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Scamanda Podcast

You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard

Remember Me by Christopher Pike

The Best Plus-Size Romance Characters to Love with Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

We’ll Never Tell by Wendy Heard

Los Feliz Murder Mansion

The Hotel Cecil

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

The Arrangement by Robyn Harding

Pretty Things by Janelle Brown

Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft

The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin

20 Books About Con Artists We Recommend Bonus Book List

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Wendy on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Best Debut Novels of 2023 (So Far) Jun 23, 2023

Thao Thai discusses her multigenerational debut novel, Banyan Moon, a Vietnamese tale that transports readers. We also discuss the best debut novels of 2023.

We are celebrating the best debut novels of 2023 (so far) with debut novelist Thao Thai, author of Banyan Moon, on Book Gang today.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Vietnam and Florida, Banyan Moon will be one of your favorite reads this year.

This emotional debut novel follows three generations of Vietnamese American women grappling with the death of their matriarch, Minh. As they begin clearing out the sprawling Banyan House, they unravel long-buried secrets about themselves and each other.

In today’s interview, we discuss what elements of Thao's personal story made their way into this multigenerational legacy story that spans decades and generations, shedding light on the unique bonds of motherhood.

Thao shares her family's intriguing history, from surprisingly sentimental heirlooms to the Vietnamese folk tales woven into this story's threads. We also discuss the complicated journey of writing mother-daughter relationships and what details were crucial in capturing the motherhood journey.

I’m excited to share this Thao Thai interview with you and celebrate her beautiful publishing journey.

Since this was one of my favorite debuts of the year, Thao joins me in conversation about some of the best debuts published in 2023. I share some trivia about two of her favorite books and bring a couple of my favorites (so far) to round out this stack.

We would also like to congratulate Thao Thai on being selected as the Read With Jenna Book Club July 2023 selection!

BONUS BOOK LIST ALERT!

Take advantage of today's bonus book list! I've compiled a complete list of all the best debuts I've read in 2023. It was a fun reading assignment, and I have so many to share with you today!

Meet Thao Thai

Thao Thai lives in Ohio with her husband and daughter. Her work has been published in the Los Angeles Review of Books, WIRED, Sunday Long Read, Catapult, and other publications. She received her MFA from The Ohio State University and her MA from The University of Chicago. Banyan Moon is her first novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle Book Chat

The Best Debuts of 2023 to Not Miss BONUS BOOK LIST

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

Tanya Ho Design

The Ringling

Cupcakes and Cashmere

Cup of Jo

Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul

Exclusive Crystal Smith Paul Interview

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

The Best Life Lessons From Time Travel Books (Cesca Major podcast episode)

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

The Best Escapist Books Set on Islands (Meg Shaffer podcast episode)

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue

Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes

What Lies Behind the Postcard: Jasmin Iolani Hakes on the New Meaning of Summer Reading

Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen

Not So Pretty

Weyward by Emilia Hart

Emilia Hart: “If it doesn’t convince you as the writer, it won’t convince the reader."

BONUS LIST: BEST DEBUTS OF 2023

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Thao on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Best Wedding Themed Rom-Com Books Jun 09, 2023

Byron Lane joins the podcast to discuss his charming fictional wedding rom-com book, Big Gay Wedding, and top book recommendations for the wedding season.

In this delightful Book Gang podcast episode, the talented author, Byron Lane, of Big Gay Wedding and A Star is Bored, discusses his writing journey.

In the novel Big Gay Wedding, Chrissy owns a Louisiana farm that combines manners and animal encounters for children in town. She's been content with her well-orchestrated and polite life until her son, Barnett, returns home with an unconventional request – to host a "big gay wedding" on her property.

The problem is that Chrissy hasn't told anyone in town about her son and must now grapple with her expectations for his imagined future too.

As you'll discover, this conversation takes a surprisingly personal turn; we discuss Byron's struggles and what he hopes this novel means for others in the LGBTQ community. With his heartfelt proposal to Steven Rowley immortalized in his book's acknowledgments, we explore whether any of their other moments made their way into the story.

Join us as we dive into the world of this charming new wedding rom-com, a perfect selection for Schitt's Creek fans!

That's not all, though; Byron brings his favorite books about weddings, including some hot new releases to check out from now from your local indie bookshop or library! We also discuss some little-known trivia around a wedding season classic!

Meet Byron Lane

Byron Lane is the author of A Star Is Bored, hailed by the New York Times Book Review as “wildly funny and irreverent.” He’s a playwright, screenwriter, Emmy Award–winning journalist, and former assistant to actress Carrie Fisher.

He’s originally from New Orleans and lives in Palm Springs, California, with his husband, author Steven Rowley, and their rescue dogs, Raindrop and Shirley. His newest novel Big Gay Wedding is on store shelves now from Henry Holt.

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out today's BONUS BOOK LIST with the BEST Books About Weddings!

Big Gay Wedding by Byron Lane

The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle Book Chat

A Star is Bored by Byron Lane

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Bridesmaids Best Friend Speech

Father of the Bride

The Editor by Steven Rowley

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

Book Soup

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

D’Vaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins

Harlequin Romance Carina Press

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

The Romance Recipe by Ruby Barrett

Liar City by Allie Therin

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Q&A: Casey McQuiston, Author of Red, White & Royal Blue

The Royal We by Heather Cocks

Red, White & Royal Blue Movie

Best Men by Sidney Karger

Sidney Karger: On Applying Real Emotions to Fictional Characters

The Gay Best Friend by Nicholas DiDomizio

Burn it All Down by Nicholas DiDomizio

The Spectacular Life Lessons From Books About Road Trips

Shop the above (Amazon) links or through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Byron on his website or on Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Best Escapist Island Books May 26, 2023

2023 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide

Escape real life with the best island books. Learn why The Wishing Game is just the book escape you need with our interview with Meg Shaffer.

Let’s head to a fictional island with this Meg Shaffer interview as we discuss her magical debut, The Wishing Game.

In this Willy Wonka-style adventure, we follow the story of Lucy Hart, a 26-year-old teacher's aide who has always found solace in the pages of the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson.

A public letter begins to go viral, sharing that a new book- A Wish for Clock Island- has been written and only one copy exists. Jack has plans to give it away to someone courageous, clever, and who knows how to make wishes. This invitation also says that you should check your mailbox if you know the answer to the riddle "Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

And Lucy just so happens to know the answer to this mysterious package’s question, as do a few other longtime readers that have had beautiful interceptions throughout their lives with Jack.

Based on the true story of a boy who ran away and showed up on the doorstep of his favorite fantasy author, we learn more about Meg’s writing process and why she wanted to write this love letter to our childhood reading. We also discuss a few other islands to escape when you need a literary vacation!

TODAY'S SPECIAL SHOW BONUS:

Don’t miss today’s bonus book list with 22 more books set on islands for the best armchair travel escapes.

Meet Meg Shaffer

Meg Shaffer is a part-time creative writing instructor and a full-time MFA candidate in TV and Screenwriting at Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri. Find her online or at home, watching Hitchcock films and/or writing Star Trek fan fiction when she should be doing her homework.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Currently Reading Podcast

Magic Season Book Chat

The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock by Edward White

The Lodger

Joan Harrison

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Peter and the Wolf

This American Life: Just South of the Unicorns

Piers Anthony Xanth Series

Books & Books

Green Glass Door Game

Ray Bradbury Short Stories

Revelle by Lyssa Mia Smith

Scribd

How to Use the Scribd App for Your Reading Life

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

We’ll Never Tell by Wendy Heard

You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Meg on her site or Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

2023 Summer Reading Guide May 12, 2023

Join me as we dive into our summer reading guide with my literary treasure trove of 37 handpicked book recommendations spanning multiple genres. This year's list includes romance, historical fiction, contemporary, nonfiction, thriller, and mystery, with some beautiful backlist book favorites.

Access the 2023 Summer Reading Guide here.

Book Gang Really Needs Your Support

If you love the guide, supporting my small business will sustain this show. You can now contribute to our small business through our new one-time donation platform, Buy Me a Coffee. I would be so grateful for any support you can offer. Every contribution helps us continue creating valuable content and supporting the literary community.

Patreon pals, who commit to a monthly donation, receive access to a free printable guide and other bookish fun.

Happy reading, friends!

Connect With Me:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Best Historical Fiction Books For Summer Apr 28, 2023

Mary Jane McLeod Bethune (1875-1955)

Debut novelist Crystal Smith Paul joins the podcast to discuss her historical fiction book, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?, and her top historical fiction book recommendations for your summer.

Historical fiction lovers, you do not want to miss this fascinating discussion about some of your favorite books and some details on upcoming 2023 historical fiction book releases.

Today's interview with Crystal Smith Paul offers a peek behind the curtains at the creation of the riveting debut novel, "Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?”, soon to hit store shelves on May 2nd from Henry Holt & Company.

The novel explores impactful themes such as colorism and the generational trauma of racism in the U.S. In the interview, Crystal will discuss her research on these themes and what message she hopes readers take away from Kitty's fictional story. The true story that inspired many of these fictional characters should not be missed today.

Learn about Paul's rich background that lent itself well to Kitty's Hollywood backstory, how she approached this dual-timeline narrative, and the most significant challenges she faced with writing and publishing.

Editor's Note: Since recording this interview, Crystal Smith Paul was selected as the May Reese's Book Club Pick and a May BOTM selection. Congratulations to our guest!

Don’t miss Crystal’s favorite books in today's bonus book list with the best historical fiction books for your summer that include some of the most anticipated books of the summer season! I round out our discussion with some intriguing trivia about these incredible selections featured today.

Meet Crystal Smith Paul

Crystal Smith Paul attended Spelman College and UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and received her master’s in journalism from NYU. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in Salon, Jezebel, and HuffPost. She currently works in digital marketing for wellness and beauty brands. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is her first novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including author interviews and curated book lists. And if you're a fan of the show, sharing it with just one friend, leaving a like, or leaving a review can go a long way in helping the podcast reach new listeners.

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? By Crystal Smith Paul

Normal Family by Chrysta Bilton

Mom Advice Book Club

Normal Family Book Chat

A Chosen Exile by Allyson Hobbs

Passing by Nessa Larsen

The Autobiography of An Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson

Imitation of Life

Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Q&A with The Personal Librarian Co-Authors Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray | Penguin Random House Audio

Powell's Books Interview - Yaa Gyasi, Author of Homegoing

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Cape Coast Castle in Ghana

When Adults Banned Their Books, These Teens Fought Back By Organizing by The Defector

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph

The Picaresque Life of and 18th Century Black English Polymath by the NYT

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Crystal Smith Paul on her Website or Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Spectacular Life Lessons from Books About Road Trips Apr 14, 2023

The BEST BOOKS ABOUT ROAD TRIPS Bonus Book List

Hit the open road with these books about road trips. Let's hop in the getaway car and learn what it takes to write a great Thelma and Louise story with Colleen Oakley.

Do you love road trip books? In today's show, we will go on a wildly entertaining road trip with a college dropout and an eighty-four-year-old woman on the run from the law.

Today’s Book Gang podcast features an interview with Colleen Oakley discussing her feisty new novel, The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, which pays tribute to the iconic movie Thelma & Louise.

Colleen shares how she aimed to capture various aspects of the film in her story and how her research on police work and investigations informed the development of the missing person case and jewelry heist in the book.

We also discuss what it takes to write about two very different generations and why she included Tanner's struggles with chronic pain in her story.

Don’t miss Colleen’s favorite books about road trips in today’s bonus book list with a few of my favorite adventures on the open road. We have included joyful stories, thought-provoking adventures, and nonfiction memoirs for your best armchair travel escape.

Meet Colleen Oakley

Colleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of five novels, including The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, You Were There Too, Close Enough to Touch, and Before I Go.

Her books have been translated into more than 20 languages worldwide, lauded by numerous magazines, including People, Us Weekly, Library Journal, and Real Simple, and won multiple awards, including Georgia Author of the Year.

Her newest novel THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF TANNER & LOUISE, is a GMA Buzz Pick, the April 2023 selection of the Reader's Digest Book Club, the Marie Claire #ReadWithMC Book Club, a LibraryReads pick, and was named a most anticipated book for 2023 by The Today Show, Southern Living, The AJC, NerdDaily, SheReads and more.

A former magazine editor for Women's Health & Fitness and Marie Claire, Colleen lives in Atlanta with her husband, four children, a flock of chickens, and a mutt named Baxter.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley

Normal Family by Chrysta Bilton

Normal Family Book Chat

A Day in the Life of a Book Publicist

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley

Before I Go by Colleen Oakley

Thelma and Louise

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Stardew Valley

The Last Of Us

Rose the Prude - Golden Girls

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

The Long Way Back by Nicole Baart

Side Trip by Kerry Lonsdale

Rebecca’s Book Reviews

Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Connect With Us:

Connect with Colleen Oakley on her Website or Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Best Book Club Books to Spark Conversation Mar 31, 2023

A Quiet Life Book Chat with MomAdvice Book Club

Looking for the best book club books for a thought-provoking chat? These book club picks are page-turners curated by historical fiction writer Meagan Church.

Mark Twain once said, "History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Meagan Church is here to explore those exact rhythms in her stunning debut, The Last Carolina Girl, published by Sourcebooks this week.

This captivating coming-of-age story set in 1935 North Carolina follows the story of Leah, an orphan sent to live with the wealthy Griffin family, where she experiences mistreatment and hardship. Against the backdrop of North Carolina's eugenics board, the novel delves into themes of poverty, power, and body autonomy. It's a must-read for historical fiction fans looking for a book that will leave them thinking long after they've turned the last page.

Meagan’s heart-wrenching novel was inspired by the real-life story of her great-aunt, who was forcibly sterilized in Indiana. Through her book, Meagan shares the research she uncovered into the United States' history with eugenics, shedding light on a complex and difficult topic with a rich history in North Carolina. Reading this book will be incredibly eye-opening for many readers- it certainly was for me.

In addition to discussing her writing process, Meagan shares her top book club picks for the best conversation starters on the podcast. Thanks to the support of Patreon members, listeners have access to a bonus curated list of 13 of the best books to spark a great conversation with the titles she highly recommends for impactful conversations.

We discuss what makes a good book for discussion and curate the perfect book club selections, including our favorite books from many voices in literary fiction, nonfiction, and historical fiction.

Meagan Church is a writer passionate about uncovering overlooked stories and bringing unheard voices to light. Her writing reflects her desire to explore the nuances of who we are and to chronicle the plight and fight of those silenced by history. She received a B.A. in English from Indiana University and has built a successful career as a storyteller and freelance writer for brands, blogs, and organizations. She currently lives in North Carolina with her family.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church

Book Club Book Article

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary

Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

The Stuff of Lasting Friendship: The Millions Interviews Jessica Francis Kane

A Semi-Radical Plan to Maintain Friendships in Your 30s, 40s and Beyond on Slate

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Brit Bennett on Publishing The Vanishing Half During the George Floyd Protests on Vox

Radium Girls by Kate Moore

The Poisoner’s Handbook on PBS

The Poisoner’s Handbook on Hoopla

The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum

The Woman They Could not Silence by Kate Moore

The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

11 Facts About Judy Blume’s ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ on Mental Floss

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Connect With Us:

Connect with Meagan on Instagram or her website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Best Life Lessons from Time Travel Books Mar 17, 2023

A Quiet Life Book Chat with MomAdvice Book Club

Join us for an episode of mind-bending time travel exploration with award-nominated novelist and screenwriter Cesca Major.

In this episode, Cesca discusses her US debut novel, Maybe Next Time, and takes us through her process of writing time travel books. Get ready to delve into the complexities of writing an endless time loop love story and discover why it's no easy feat.

Whether you're a fan of time travel fiction or simply love hearing from talented writers, this podcast episode is not to be missed.

Meet Cesca Major:

Cesca Major is an accomplished author and screenwriter with an impressive track record. With 13 novels published under different pen names, her books have been widely distributed across more than 10 countries. Her writing prowess has earned her nominations for the RNA's Romantic Comedy Award and the CWA Gold Dagger Award, a testament to her exceptional storytelling skills.

Maybe Next Time marks Cesca Major's US debut, and this jump across the pond represents a new opportunity for the author, and we can't wait to see what's next for her. She is also working on an original TV series with the BBC, a new addition to her impressive portfolio.

Cesca lives in Berkshire with her husband, son, and twin girls. You can find out more about Cesca over on her website.

Book Gang listeners, if you love our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting me on Patreon! As a patron, you'll receive a monthly "FULLY BOOKED" show, featuring the latest in buzzy books reviews in newsletter and podcast format, co-hosted with @getbookedwithlarry. You'll also get an exclusive monthly author interview and a book club music playlist for the MomAdvice Book Club. Membership is just $5 per month, or you can pre-pay to save 10%.

Mentioned in this episode:

BONUS BOOK LIST: Escape reality with my favorite time travel books list. Don’t miss this expanded stack with time loops, parallel lives, Groundhog's Day themes, and multiverses.

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

Mug Warmer

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

The Summer of Impossible Things by Rowan Coleman

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pukka Fired Up Matte

Don’t miss today’s article with my favorite time travel books in today’s bonus book list!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Cesca Major on Instagram or her website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED book review show & more!

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Celebrity Book Club Deep Dive Episode You Need Mar 03, 2023

Take a deep dive into the world of celebrity book clubs! Explore how Hollywood and literature collide with Oprah, Reese, and Jenna impacting publishing. Josh (@tellthebeees on TikTok) brings his expertise on books and culture news to discuss how celebrity selection has impacted our reading experience.

Don’t miss today’s article with my top five celebrity book club recommendations from these three amazing clubs we have featured today in today’s bonus book list!

Mentioned in this episode:

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

Reese’s Book Club Hello Sunshine

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagiharav

A Little Life Tee

Roxane Gay’s Book Club

Malala’s Book Club

Oprah’s Book Club

Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Reese Witherspoon and the Boom in Celebrity Book Clubs on The Guardian

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl

Wild

Big Little Lies

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

The Island of the Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Amy’s Interview with Celeste Ng

Amy’s Interview with Jessica Knoll

Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

L.A. Weather by Maria Amparo Escandon

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing

Carolina by Taylor Swift

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

Reese Witherspoon: Women Want Quality Content, Not 'Mommy Blogs And 14 Ways To Cook A Turkey’ on Huffpost

No Name Book Club

Noname: Tiny Desk Concert

Noname’s Interview on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

How Noname is Reimagining Fame (and Everything Else) on Rolling Stone

Noname Book Club Patreon Account

Black bookstore list from Noname

Read with Jenna Book Club

Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl

Jenna Bush Hager, Progeny of Presidents, Is Now a Publishing Kingmaker on The New York Times

The Feather Thief by Kirk W. Johnson

Jenna Bush Hager Adds Page to Book Club with Universal Studio Production Deal on Variety

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

A Little Hope by Ethan Joella

Lessons for Writing Your First Book with Ethan Joella (Book Gang Podcast)

Remarkable Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Dear Edward

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall

The Family by Naomi Krupitsky

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

Connect With Us:

Connect with Josh (TellTheBeees on Tiktok)

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED book review show & more!

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

More Asian American Authors to Read Now Feb 17, 2023

Expand your library with new Asian American authors. Celebrate fresh AAPI voices with debut novelist Kristen Mei Chase on today's podcast.

In today's Book Gang episode, Kristen Mei Chase discusses her book "A Thousand Miles to Graceland" and highlights some of her favorite Asian American and Pacific Islander authors in literature.

This sparkling debut imagines a road trip for a mother and daughter bonded together over the surprising power of ELVIS. We also discuss how it trickled into her own relationship with her mother, and other Asian American voices that helped her find her own.

She discusses her unique publishing process and how her decade-long manuscript finally got published through an unlikely avenue for refinement.

Today's discussion also explores a backlist favorite from Celeste Ng and a brand-new debut favorite that presents an American family story from a bi-racial perspective. For Kristen, the significance of writing (and reading) about bi-racial Chinese-American characters is an impactful one.

Don't miss today's BONUS post featuring Asian American and Pacific Islander authors, including Kristen's book and several upcoming titles. This is a great starting point for reading more books with AAPI voices.

Meet Kristen Mei Chase

Kristen Mei Chase is an author, web entrepreneur and media personality. She co-founded Cool Mom Picks, one of the most influential parenting networks on the web, reaching millions of parents each month with the best gear, gifts, advice, and tips. As a bi-racial Asian American, Kristen writes to share the little stories of bi- and multi-racial Americans in a big way. She lives in the Philly suburbs with her four kids and an extensive collection of vintage Elvis t-shirts.

Mentioned in this episode:

Book Gang listeners, if you love our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting me on Patreon! As a patron, you'll receive a monthly "FULLY BOOKED" show, featuring the latest in buzzy books reviews in newsletter and podcast format, co-hosted with @getbookedwithlarry. You'll also get an exclusive monthly author interview and a book club music playlist for the MomAdvice Book Club. Membership is just $5 per month, or you can pre-pay to save 10%.

Please note that HarperCollins has reached an agreement with their strike! This was recorded prior to the contract agreement. You can read more here.

A Thousand Miles to Graceland by Kristen Mei Chase

A Home for Asian American Authors by Publishers Weekly

Third State Books

Phenomenal Media

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

The Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang

The Library of Legends by Janie Chang

The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn & Janie Chang

HarperCollins Union on TikTok

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

Amy’s interview with Celeste Ng

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

Cup of Jo

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Kristen Mei Chase on her website, Instagram, or Twitter

Connect with Amy on Instagram or on MomAdvice.com

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED book review show & more!

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Best Coming of Age Books To Read Now Feb 03, 2023

Get ready to relive those coming-of-age moments and feel like a kid again on today's show. What's better than being transported back to our youth through our fictional life. This discussion is filled with trivia on your favorite backlist books and a short but powerful new release selection I know you'll love.

Don’t miss this dynamic chat and get our list of essential reads that would be perfect for a buddy read or book club with friends.

Kristen Rider joins me as our special guest and shares the ways she navigates reading with chronic pain. You won't want to miss this section with our favorite gadgets and apps that help us navigate this challenge with holding books.

On the Blog:

Don't miss today's SPECIAL BONUS ARTICLE with 13 Coming-of-Age Stories Any Adult Will Love!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

What the World’s Top Authors Say You Should be Reading

Amy on Hometown Living

LEVO book stand

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The People we Keep by Allison Larkin

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnson

The Clan of the Cave Bar by Jean M. Auel

Sundays With Writers: Love With a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

Love with a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

Life by Keith Richards

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

The Girl With the Louding Voice Book Chat

Best-selling novel exposes life of children in Nigeria on Reuters

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane

The Walking People by Mary Beth Keane

Fever by Mary Beth Keane

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevado

Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac

Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

Harper Collins Strike

HCPUnion on TikTok

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Kristin on Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram or on MomAdvice.com

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED book review show & more!

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Galentine's Day Entertainment Recommendations You Need Now Jan 20, 2023

The Boy We Made Book Chat

Let’s celebrate this unofficial Galentine’s Day holiday because ladies celebrating ladies is ALWAYS a good thing. Mary Carver, from The Couch podcast, joins us to share her favorite movie & tv friendships while I bring my stack of fictional female friendships that will inspire your next holiday.

It doesn’t happen every day that a television show creates its own holiday, but that’s what happened on one episode of Parks and Recreation. Galentine’s Day, described as “Lilith Fair minus the angst,” is celebrated by many women thanks to one Parks & Recreation episode

This celebration is showcased in episode 16 of season 2 where Amy Poehler shares this stirring speech, “Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast style,” she explains. “Ladies celebrating ladies."

This episode offers tips and tricks for celebrating, as well as some insight into how to love your friends well ALL YEAR LONG .

On the Blog:

Don't miss today's SPECIAL BONUS ARTICLE with 13 Friendship Stories You'll Love for Galentine's Day! This extends today's book selections with a fantastic idea for a nonfiction pick as well as a collection of classic friendship stories that would be great to revive for a backlist book club.

Mary also catches us up on New Family Movies from 2022 to Watch Now! Don't miss this bonus with ideas for streaming this weekend.

Mentioned in this episode:

This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris

Get the Most Out of the Libby App

Parks and Recreation Galentine’s Episode

Enneagram Test

Poms

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

Drop Dead Gorgeous

The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

Miranda

Call the Midwife

BritBox

Spare by Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex

The Gown by Jennifer Robson

Playing House

The Best Libby App Tips and Tricks

Access Kanopy through Libby

Hey Ladies! by Michelle Markowitz and Caroline Moss

Gee Thanks I Just Bought It Podcast

This Book Spoofs All Those Group Emails With Your Girlfriend & It’s Painfully Relatable on Bustle

Never Have I Ever

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Firefly Lane

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

Something Like Happy by Eva Woods

Interview with Author Eva Woods on Something Like Happy on HuffPost

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Mary on MaryCarver.com or The Couch Podcast or Mary’s Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram or on MomAdvice.com

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED book review show & more!

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Best Books of 2022 to Read Now Jan 06, 2023

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon! (download our top 25 lists AND unlock 189 bookish bonuses INSTANTLY)

The BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR is here! We read a combined 481 books and tell you our top book recommendations from 2022! Larry Hoffer (@getbookedwithlarry) is back with his astounding stack! Cue the confetti! We share our favorite historical fiction, young adult, science fiction, literary and contemporary fiction, and ONE outstanding thriller that made the cut. Don't miss today's blog post with fifteen more of my favorites in today's show notes.

If you are on the hunt for your next debut novel, this stack is filled with them because there is nothing better than celebrating new authors.

As readers that love to make discoveries, we were surprised by how many many big blockbuster books ended up making our top ten lists too. I guess the New York Times bestseller list wasn't so bad this year!

The best part is that Larry and I share many a top pick for the first time. We made some space to reflect on our end of the year reading and how we plan to better shape our goals for a happier and healthier new year of reading in 2023. I also appreciate the personal experiences that we bring to this years book and I think you will too.

If these new books for your stack aren't enough, we are offering a part two of this episode in the Patreon community. Along with this bonus episode is a 20-page reading guide AND printable checklists with our top 25 books so you can take these to your next library day.

We can't wait to hear if a few of your favorite books of the year made the cut.

Helpful Articles Mentioned Today:

Best Books of 2022 To Read Now (blog post- FULL LIST & REVIEWS)

Tutorial on How to Use the Storygraph App

Tutorial on How to Use the Scribd App

Books & Authors Mentioned:

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

The One Hundred Years of Lenni & Margot by Marianne Cronin

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

Fire Keeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas

The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

When You Call My Name by Tucker Shaw

The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour

You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour with David Levithan

Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman

Look Closer by David Ellis

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

This post contains affiliate links.

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my new MomAdvice Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores

Get the Most Out of the Libby App Dec 16, 2022

How to Use the Storygraph Tutorial (Written Guide)

The Libby team is HERE to help us transition from Overdrive to Libby. Learn what makes this public library app so great and how to borrow and enjoy ebooks and audiobooks with your library card. Libby is answering our listener questions and is spilling the tea on the exciting developments that are happening behind the scenes for this big (and necessary) transition.

Are you struggling to make the switch from Overdrive to Libby? As many of you know our time with Overdrive will come to an end in 2023. As I make the switch myself, I thought it would be fun to bring you along on this journey.

Today I am honored to share an episode with the Libby team on our show.

The Professional Book Nerds (Joe, Emma, and Jill) are this week’s tour guide You may recognize their from their own podcast where work as staff librarians and offer book recommendations.

They love discussing books with their listeners and sharing what you can check out from your local public libraries and school systems, AND they love talking about what makes the Libby app so unique.

Today’s episode walks you through navigating this reading app, the best way to transition our reading history from Overdrive, and what updates are in progress.

Today’s episode includes listener questions that were submitted before taping.

Libby answers these questions (and more) in today’s episode:

How to use their new tagging system and some clever tagging categories you might not have explored.
Learn the new features for listening to audiobooks and how to download them (without taking up all your phone storage)
Discover the accessibility features they offer for ebook readers to make reading easier for ALL readers.

Meet our Libby Guests:

Joe Skelley is one of the co-hosts of the Professional Book Nerds podcast and has been at Overdrive for five years. He is part of the digital book mobile team which is a truck that goes across the US and Canada that does free stops at libraries and schools and helps people get started with their library.

Emma Dwyer is also one of the co-hosts of OverDrive's Professional Book Nerds podcast and an avid user of the Libby app. She has been at Overdrive for eight years now in varying roles, and is currently as a product trainer on the Overdrive training team, training our library partners and their staff on how to use Libby and other Overdrive products and services.

Jill Grunenwald is the creator and the third co-host of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. She works on OverDrive's marketing team as a Marketing and Communications Specialist for the North American public library. Her role is to communicate with library partners to let them know about all the fun new services and features that Libby has to offer.

Mentioned in this episode:

FULL LIBBY GUIDE WITH WRITTEN TRANSCRIPTION TODAY (and screenshots from our discussion)

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

2023 MomAdvice Book Club Announcement Podcast Episode

Check Out the 2023 MomAdvice Book Club List

This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris

Winter Atmospheric Reads- My Guest Spot on the Professional Book Nerds Podcast

Professional Book Nerds Libby Podcast Episode

You can find Libby Help directly in the app or visit this help link.

You can register for the monthly Getting Started sessions

You can find steps for sideloading Libby on your Kindle Fire

A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand

The Secret History by Donna Tart

Wicked Little Things by Justin Arnold

Connect With Us:

Amy’s Website- MomAdvice.com

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

The Professional Book Nerds Website

Professional Book Nerds on Instagram

Please join the Patreon to support my work.

This post contains affiliate links.

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my new MomAdvice Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores

The 2023 MomAdvice Book Club Books Announced Dec 01, 2022

Discover the MomAdvice 2023 Book Club Books I have curated for our readers this year. If you need your reading life reignited or an online community to share your favorite hobby with, we have you covered with these fifteen dynamic selections for discussion. From historical fiction to memoir to YA to mystery to literary fiction, there is something for everyone in this year's book club stack.

Learn the exclusive content you can access with this year's authors and the unique immersive experiences we offer for your best year of reading ever.

Today's show includes an online reading guide for your reading year. Please visit this link to access today's guide with full descriptions of each book and how to shop.

We have joyful traditions, meaningful coming-of-age stories, found families, and found loves.

We also have some dynamic discussions in store around challenging topics like the disparities in our medical system, reproductive rights, body autonomy, and disability awareness.

As I've learned so much through this selection process, I am confident that you will walk away with a new understanding of the world too. I can't wait to read with you in 2023.

The show offers the BIGGEST thank you to Meagan Francis, for leading today's discussion. Please connect with her in the links below.

Show Notes:

To purchase these books, please support Fables Books, my local indie bookstore.

Connect With Us:

Amy's Website- MomAdvice.com

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Meagan's Website- Mother of Reinvention

Meagan is @meaganfrancis on Instagram

Intelligent Change Journal

Take a Reading Challenge for a Better Reading Year Nov 18, 2022

Improve your reading habits by committing to reading in your first reading challenge this year. @readwiththebookgirls share what they’ve learned from creating their challenge prompts and what advice they would give if you want to DIY a challenge of your own.

Today we talk about the Book Girls' Guide book lists and how they can help you have a more diverse reading experience. These great challenges can not only teach you about the world, but also help you read more books a week.

Get their reader’s favorite books for reading around the world and through the decades.

Book lovers, let’s read more books this year with these reading lists and advice from Melissa and Angela.

Mentioned in this episode:

One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

Book Gang on Facebook

November Book Discussion

Okay Fine, I’m Grateful Journal

A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea by Melissa Fleming

The Book Girls' Guide Facebook Group

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki

The Incredible Winston Browne by Sean Dietrich

Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Connect With Us:

Amy's Website- MomAdvice.com

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

The Book Girls’ Guide

Email Sign Up

The Best Memoirs to Read for Nonfiction November

This post contains affiliate links.

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my new MomAdvice Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores

The Nonfiction November Challenge You Need Nov 04, 2022

Learn how to participate in Nonfiction November with the ultimate tour guide. Olive Fellows started Nonfiction November on her BookTube channel, A Book Olive. Discover four fun reading prompts and ideas for some amazing nonfiction books to start your journey.

Nonfiction November is a month-long nonfiction reading initiative during which you are challenged to read more nonfiction than you ordinarily would. If you read at least one nonfiction book during November, you're officially a participant!

But if you want an ADDED challenge or need some direction in choosing your books, Olive is here with four one-word prompts to help inspire your stack.

Olive also shares a day in the life of a Booktuber.

Mentioned in this episode:

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

Sad Books for When You Want to Ugly Cry Podcast Episode

November Book Club Chat

Amy’s Favorite Apricot Scrub

Bethany Frankel on TikTok

Believe Beauty Cosmetics

Dandy Lions Cosmetics

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

Open Book by Jessica Simpson

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Let’s Get Physical by Danielle Friedman

The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile

Nonfiction November on Instagram

Threadable App

Fable

How Music Got Free by Stephen Witt

A Furious Sky by Eric Jay Dolin

Hudson Bay Bound by Natalie Warren

Love with a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

Amy’s Interview with Torre DeRoche

The Secret Lives of Bats by Merlin Tuttle

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

Dopesick

Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow

Connect With Us:

Amy's Website- MomAdvice.com

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Olive’s YouTube Channel- A Book Olive

Olive on Instagram

Olive on Twitter

Julie & Sierra’s Newsletter

This post contains affiliate links.

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my new MomAdvice Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores

The Best Plus-Size Romance Characters to Love Oct 28, 2022

Today's interview is with Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone as we discuss their new plus-size heroine in "A Merry Little Meet Cute."

Learn why body positivity in our characters is so important and how the romance industry is changing to feel more inclusive.

This spicy romance discussion includes what they learned from forming this new "odd couple" writing partnership and how they rose to new creative challenges.

Julie and Sierra both have worked as librarians and share five of their top book recommendations with curvy characters to fall in love with.

Mentioned in this episode:

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Dumplin’ Movie

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy

American Queen by Sierra Simone

Misadventures of a Curvy Girl by Sierra Simone

Vault of Ambience YouTube Channel

Samsung Frame TV (that we all own now- hahaha!)

Tazo Tea Turmeric Bliss

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

Priest by Sierra Simone

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade

After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez

Fat Chance Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado

Xeni: A Marriage of Inconvenience by Rebekah Weatherpoon

Love is a Revolution by Renee Watson

Connect With Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Follow Sierra on email at thesierrasimone@gmail.com & TheSierraSimone.com & Sierra’s Newsletter & Sierra’s Instagram

Follow Julie on Instagram & Julie on Twitter & Julie on TikTok & Julie’s website & Julie’s Newsletter

Julie + Sierra's Website

Amy’s Interview with Mary Kubica

The Fall Books We Can't Wait to Read Oct 14, 2022

Our favorite bookseller is back to share their best fall book recommendations for your fall reading list. Fables Books shares their most anticipated books for readers with a sneak peek at what’s coming to your store shelves. We discuss the books we’ve already previewed and our most anticipated for the autumn reading season.

Whether you are craving a cozy mystery, a slow-burn romance, a love story, a serial killer drama, or magical realism, we have you covered with this podcast.

So break out the cozy sweaters and catch some fall vibes with this fall book preview from my favorite book shop.

Mentioned in this episode:

In The Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova

Fables Reading Challenge

Seoulmates by Susan Lee

The Two Lives of Sara by Catherine Adel West

Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West

Aces Wild by Amanda DeWitt

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

Indian Matchmaking on Netflix

Angelika Frankenstein Makes her Match by Sally Thorne

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

Priest by Sierra Simone

American Queen by Sierra Simone

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

Ice Planet Barbarian Series by Ruby Dixon

Dark Olympus Series by Katee Robert

The Night Ship by Jess Kidd

Himself by Jess Kidd

Things in Jars by Jess Kidd

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V E Schwab

Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Mary Kubica on The Book Gang Podcast

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

The Push by Ashley Audrain

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram

Fables Books on TikTok

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED book review show & more!

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Sad Books to Read When You Want to Ugly Cry Sep 30, 2022

Today’s podcast is for you if you love sad books and a good cry. Today we discuss our top book recommendations for heart-wrenching stories that can pull at every heartstring.

Today’s guest, @passions_and_prologues joins us with his top recommendations for thought-provoking and beautifully written stories that allow us to fully immerse ourselves in our seasonal depression and embrace those sad endings.

Adam Sokol the host of the Passions and Prologues podcast, has a passion for just these kinds of recommendations and discusses his new literary podcast today. This show gives readers new authors to love, and a peek at some of their most beloved passions beyond the bookish world.

He has spent over a decade in the literary world interviewing authors and promoting books. He will read anything that is written well but is especially drawn to small, heartfelt stories with big emotions, literary and speculative fiction, and stories with a touch of magic and nostalgia.

I am happy to be a loyal listener of his show and have loved listening to his guests discuss everything from strategic packing for trips to their love for weightlifting. We discuss how Adam leads these unique conversations and how his job at Overdrive for eleven years has helped him land such amazing guests.

Get out your tissues for today’s episode!!

Notes from today's show:

The Book of Harlan Book Chat

Passions and Prologues Podcast

Libby App

Professional Book Nerds Podcast

Reading Glasses Podcast

Full Circle by Andrea Barber

Brad Meltzer

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijikamp

Listening Still by Anne Griffin

When All is Said by Anne Griffin

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce

Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

MomAdvice Online Book Club

This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith

I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi

Empower Her Network

The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Passions & Prologues on Instagram

Passions & Prologues on TikTok

Connect with Amy on Instagram

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED book review show & more!

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

19 New Books to Read This Fall (PART 1) Sep 16, 2022

Are you looking for your next great book to read? We share our favorite new-release books for fall (and a few new backlist faves).

Experience FULLY BOOKED today. Our Patreon exclusive show offers you honest book reviews on all the latest releases with a FREE printable reading guide.

Hey, book lovers! We are giving YOU a sneak peek at our favorite books from September.

This stack highlights two book club selections, stories that catch fall vibes, a small town love story, and you can discover the magical realism book that ended up being a surprise hit.

We also have lots of romance spice to pair with your pumpkin spice this year!

Let's get FULLY BOOKED TOGETHER. Please note, this is PART 1 of 2.

Show Notes:

Book Club Online The Book of Harlan Chat

The Book of Harlan by Bernice McFadden

*** September Patreon Newsletter ***

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering

Where the Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens

Carolina by Taylor Swift

Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore

Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Canter

Girls with Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman

My Government Means to Kill Me by Rasheed Newson

The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books Podcast

Just Another Love Song by Kerry Winfrey

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey

Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey

Hurricane Girl by Marcy Dermansky

One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Magic Season: A Son’s Story by Wade Rouse

Kathleen Carter’s Podcast Episode - A Day in the Life of a Book Publicist

Mean Baby by Selma Blair

The Last White Man by Moshin Hamid

Exit West by Moshin Hamid

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki

Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Smells Like Tween Spirit by Laurie Gelman

Class Mom by Laurie Gelman

You’ve Been Volunteered by Laurie Gelman

Yoga Pant Nation by Laurie Gelman

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

Ethan Joella’s podcast episode - Lessons for Writing Your First Book

Archie Bunker’s Place

When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff

American Fever by Dur e Aziz Amna

Connect With Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram
Larry H. on goodreads.com
Larry H. on Instagram

19 New Books To Read This Fall (PART 2) Sep 16, 2022

Are you looking for your next great book to read? We share our favorite new-release books for fall (and a few new backlist faves).

Experience FULLY BOOKED today. Our Patreon exclusive show offers you honest book reviews on all the latest releases with a FREE printable reading guide.

Hey, book lovers! We are giving YOU a sneak peek at our favorite books from September.

This stack highlights two book club selections, stories that catch fall vibes, a small town love story, and a magical realism book that ended up being a surprise hit.

We also have lots of romance spice to pair with your pumpkin spice this year!

Let's get FULLY BOOKED TOGETHER. Please note, this is PART 2 of 2.

Mr. Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

The Perfect Find by Tia Williams

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Keya Das’s Second Act by Sopan Dev

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Trees by Percival Everett

Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Grier

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey

Always the First to Die by RJ Jacobs

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz

I’m the Girl by Courtney Summers

I Walk Between the Raindrops by TC Boyle

All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien

Lucy on the Wild Side by Kerry Rea

Like a Rolling Stone by Jann Wenner

Dinners with Ruth by Nina Totenberg

The House Party by Rita Cameron

The Make-Up Test by Jenny L Howe

The Winter Orphans by Kristin Beck

Typecast by Andrea J Stein

Bliss Montage: Stories - Ling Ma

The Epic Story of Every Living Thing by Deb Caletti

Forsaken Country by Allen Eskens

Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory

Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks

The Old Place by Bobby Finker

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

The Winners by Fredrik Backman

Jacqueline in Paris by Ann Mah

Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss

Connect With Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram
Larry H. on goodreads.com
Larry H. on Instagram

The People We Keep: An Interview with Allison Larkin Aug 05, 2022

Enjoy this exclusive podcast interview with Allison Larkin discussing her writing process for The People We Keep. Download The People We Keep music playlist and book club guide. This is our final episode of season 1- the show will return on Be sure to scroll down to see the list of your top ten favorite episodes and my short list of must-listen episodes to keep you busy until our next season, launching on September 9th!

Enjoy this exclusive podcast interview with Allison Larkin discussing her writing process for The People We Keep. Download the music playlist and book club guide (FOR FREE) today.

Have you ever thought about how the #MeToo movement might have impacted your favorite characters? What if the world saw your character as unlikeable or difficult, but the world’s new lens saw her as beloved and endearing?

The People We Keep is a captivating coming-of-age story pulled at every heartstring as you follow one girl's journey towards finding love in her chosen family.

April Sawicki lives in a motorless motorhome that her father won in a poker game. Failing out of school, and picking up shifts at a local diner, she’s left fending for herself in a town where she’s never quite felt at home.

When she “borrows” her neighbor’s car to perform at an open mic night, she realizes her life could be much bigger than where she came from. After a fight with her dad, April packs her stuff and leaves for good, setting off on a journey to find a life that’s all hers.

You will find a very determined voice in this character, but April isn't the only determined woman.

In today's interview, you will find that Allison Larkin is just as determined.

She wants her story told and will not compromise in any fashion on this story, no matter how long it might take or how many hands it had to pass. Ultimately, it has become such a beloved book to many readers because of her dogged determination.

So today, we celebrate her!

About Allison Larkin:

Allison Larkin is the internationally bestselling author of The People We Keep, Stay, Why Can’t I Be You, and Swimming for Sunlight. Connect with Allison Larkin on her website.

*****

Looking for more to listen to? Here are the favorite shows of season 1!

Book Gang’s Favorite Season 1 Shows:

Strong Book Opinions Wanted (Episode 24)
Best Books of 2021 Part 1 (Episode 16)
Best Backlist Books You Missed Part 2 (Episode 33)
Must Read True Crime Books (Episode 21)
Best Books of 2021 Part 2 (Episode 17)
Improve Your Reading Focus and Memory (Episode 32)
Use These Cleaning Hacks For a Better Reading Life (Episode 28)
The Best Audiobooks for Your Reading Life (Episode 39)
Best Backlist Books You Missed Part 2 (Episode 33)
Episode 19: Sneak Peek: Fully Booked

Amy’s Favorite Season 1 Shows:

What it Takes to Be A Top GoodReads Reviewer (Episode 11)
How the Storygraph Can Enhance Your Reading Life: An Interview With Nadia Odunayo- the CEO and Founder (Episode 25)
Hopes & Heartbreaks of Pandemic Publishing With Gae Polisner (Episode 20)
The Julia Whelan Interview You Need to Hear (Episode 40)
This Will Be Funny Later: An Interview With Jenny Pentland (Episode 34)

Connect With Me:

Connect with Amy on Instagram

Visit Amy’s Website (MomAdvice.com)

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED book review show & more!)

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

The Julia Whelan Interview You Need to Hear Jul 29, 2022

Julia Whelan uses her background as an award-winning audiobook narrator to write her romance novel, Thank You for Listening. Join me today for an interview to learn more about her writing process and the behind-the-scenes of an audiobook narrator’s life.

This steamy romance read dishes up some surprising routines in an audiobook narrator's life, from their narration preparation to snack routines. We also talk about the need for pseudonyms in the industry when working in the romance industry, in particular.

Discover Julia’s proudest moments in her career, what she learned by slowing down on audiobook projects, and what she would tell her younger self about her wildly successful career path.

Patreon friends can enjoy a bonus episode with Julia in our fun Bookworm Challenge. Be sure to join Patreon to unlock this feature!

About Thank You For Listening:

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING is an uplifting book telling the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan

These Walls Can Talk by Erin Mallon

Connect With Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

justjuliawhelan on Instagram

@justjuliawhelan on Twitter

Subscribe to My Daily Kindle Book Deals Newsletter

Subscribe to My Happy List (what to watch & read for your week)

Join the Book Gang Patreon for Exclusive Bonus Content

The Best Audiobooks For Your Reading Life Jul 22, 2022

Fall in love with these book recommendations for the best audiobooks for your next reading day. Meg, from Sorta Awesome, joined the show to share her top recommendations and why they hit the sweet spot in her reading life. This book stack has everything you crave- deeply personal memoirs, science fiction (sci-fi), young adult reads, and pure escapist fun.

We start our discussion with our audiobook habits, speeds, and what I’ve learned from our guests about staying engaged with your audiobook literature.

If you struggle to stay focused during your audiobook time, don’t miss today’s show with some surprising tricks to keep your brain engaged. These audiobook reading hacks helped me to engage with our book club books in new ways this year.

Don’t miss Meg’s recommendation on one of this year’s award winners (for the Audie Awards) or my selections with full cast narration that kept me engaged from start to finish.

Get to Know Meg

Meg Tietz should be a very familiar voice to many of you. She runs a top women's lifestyle podcast called Sorta Awesome for women who want to stay current on all things awesome, including culture, media, and trending conversations!

Meg first created Sorta Awesome in 2015, after closing her popular blog, Sorta Crunchy. Sorta Awesome has over three million downloads from thousands of awesome listeners.

They also run a very active community in the show’s private Facebook group, the Sorta Awesome Hangout. There is so much to love about Meg and this show, and I'm so honored to have her in our space today.

Mentioned in this episode:

Book Gang Episode: Improve Your Reading Memory and Focus

Book Gang Episode: Booker of the Month

Sorta Awesome Romance Starter Pack

Pop Culture Happy Hour on NPR

Fool Me Once by Ashley Winstead

The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta

Let’s Talk About Midlife with Mindy and Meg

As You Wish by Cary Elwes

New York Times Spelling Bee

How to Use Scribd for Your Reading Life

Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Broken Horses by Brandi Carlile

Mean Baby by Selma Blair

Open Book by Jessica Simpson

One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Assistants by Camille Perri

My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams

Cover Story by Susan Rigetti

Bad Blood on Netflix

These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant

The One by John Marrs

Black Mirror Hang the DJ

The One on Netflix

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

The Martian by Andy Weir

Amy’s interview with Andy Weir

Connect With Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook

Sorta Awesome podcast

sortaawesomemeg on Instagram

Join the Book Gang Patreon for Exclusive Bonus Content

The View Was Exhausting (Interview with Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta) Jul 15, 2022

Sit down with our first wife-writing duo, Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta, as they discuss their sophisticated summer romance, The View Was Exhausting. They join us from Berlin to share about their writing process, embracing romance tropes, and why they wanted to explore the topic of women of color in Hollywood.

I am excited to host our first writing duo on the podcast today. It’s not just any writing duo, though; this is a wife-writing duo that joined me from Berlin to discuss their romance debut!

I selected this book for our Summer Reading Guide because it brings the PURE ESCAPE factor you crave in your vacation reading. This swoon-worthy romance laces iconic scenery with a Hollywood setting and weaves in a great fake dating plotline.

Mikaella and Onjuli share how they divide their writing and began writing stories together over a decade ago. It’s beautiful and inspiring for anyone contemplating writing a book with their life partner.

This week does, sadly, conclude our Summer Author Interview series. I hope you have enjoyed these conversations!

Check out the two other episodes this summer: my Ashley Winstead interview on Fool Me Once (episode 37) and the Jenny Pentland interview on This Will Be Funny Later (episode 34).

Ashley shares differences between thriller and romance writing. Jenny's interview was a lesson in vulnerability with memoir writing and growing up as Roseanne Arnold's daughter. Don’t miss these episodes.

Now let’s chat about this smart and sophisticated summer romance that has become my top summer book recommendation for friends that need a true escape from reality.

NOTE FROM AMY: I hope you love the show’s new look! I was so excited to share it with you today!

Mentioned in this episode:

Get the Kindle Daily Deals List to Your Email

The View was Exhausting by Mikaela Clements & Onjuli Datta

Thank U, Next: How the Golden Age of Romcoms Inspired Our Novel

Get A Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

The View Was Exhausting Playlist on Spotify

TVWE Remix on Spotify

100 Ways Music Video by Jackson Wang

Getaway Car Music Video by Taylor Swift

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

The View Was Exhausting Book Club Kit

Six Days in Rome by Francesca Giacco

Tell Me Everything by Laura Kay

Connect with Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Book Gang Episode: This Will Be Funny Later with Jenny Pentland

mikandonj on Instagram

Fool Me Once (Interview With Ashley Winstead) Jul 08, 2022

Not everyone can say they published two books during the pandemic, but Ashley Winstead can. Today we discuss her romance debut Fool Me Once and how Winstead hopes to break the mold with her romance characters.

This week we continue our conversations with writers in our Summer Author Interview series. After our incredible kickoff with Jenny Pentland’s memoir (episode 34), we move into lighter fiction waters with Fool Me Once, written by Ashley Winstead.

I felt compelled to reach out to Ashley to hear about her surprising journey to full-time writing during the pandemic and what it was about this time that yielded such a fruitful creative time for her career. She shares how her previous job (as a communications director working in public policy) shaped the plot line for Lee Stone and the kickoff to her new romance series.

I also want to know what it looks like to compartmentalize work when you write in two genres. For example, Ashley alternates writing thrillers (like In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and the soon-to-be-released The Last Housewife) and romance- two VERY different worlds.

Are there two Ashleys? We need answers!

She speaks with surprising vulnerability about the challenges in the romance industry and with great confidence about the kind of success she plans to achieve with her writing. Don’t miss this episode.

Patreon friends can enjoy a bonus episode with Ashley in our fun Bookworm Challenge. Be sure to join Patreon to unlock this feature.

Be sure to check out this year’s Summer Reading Guide for the best beach read book recommendations.

Get to Know Ashley:

Ashley Winstead holds a Ph.D. in contemporary American literature from Southern Methodist University and a B.A. in English and Art History from Vanderbilt University. She lives in Houston with her husband, where she drinks red wine and dreams up novels. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram!

Mentioned in this episode:

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

How the Hell Has Danielle Steel Managed to Write 179 Books?

Fool Me Once by Ashley Winstead

The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead

Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q Sutanto

Connect With Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Ashley’s Instagram

Ashley on Twitter

AshleyWinstead.com

Book Gang Podcast: Improve Your Reading Memory and Focus

Break Up With Your Reading Slump Jun 24, 2022

What could be more frustrating than a reading slump? Sasha (@pathologically.literate) wants to break up her reading slump and I plan to guide her with my arsenal of advice and my top recommendations to get her reading life back on track.

Sasha asked me for some guidance on choosing her next book and shared some of her all-time favorites that give me a good starting point for recommendations. This prescription for slump-busting books isn't just for Sasha. This episode is for ANYONE who has struggled to find their way back to reading again.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Book Club

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

Barack Obama’s 2021 Book List

Michelle Obama’s Workout Playlist

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Kindred by Octavia E Butler

Nothing Gold Can Stay by Ron Rash

Serena by Ron Rash

The Cove by Ron Rash

Desperation Road by Michael Farris Smith

The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood

All The Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

Where All Light Tends to Go by David Joy

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Deconstructed by Liz Talley

Amy’s Daily Deals Page

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead

Fool Me Once by Ashley Winstead

Mean Baby by Selma Blair

A Star is Bored by Byron Lane

Connect With Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Sasha on Instagram

Pathologically Literate

Book Gang Patreon

Cozy Summer Reads Jun 16, 2022

These page-turning cozy summer reads are just what you need for your beach bag. Try these summer books that embrace cozy love stories, small-town fun, and even light family drama. This is the episode you need for your beach bag!

I know I am LIKELY not your go-to for COZY reading choices, so I thought I would bring on a guest who would be.

When I read something that gives me warm fuzzies, you know it is a rare gem that deserves to be talked about.

We have the stack for you if you love a good happily ever after, beach house settings, magical realism, and stories about falling in love.

Today’s books have fun twists and turn that will keep you turning the pages until past bedtime. These plotlines are light enough for beaching read while still delivering on stories that would be perfect for a summer book club.

In this discussion we share our mutual adoration for Emily Henry (a featured author in this year’s summer reading guide) and Steven Rowley. We also embrace a few farfetched mysteries, food-themed literature, lighter family dysfunction, and bookish-themed tales

Mentioned in this episode:

Limelight by Amy Poeppel

The Couch Podcast: Reading About Books & Reading with Amy Allen Clark

Book Gang: This Will Be Funny Later with Jenny Pentland

Veronica Mars

The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

The Lincoln Lawyer movie

Book Gang: Cozy Up With These Winter Reads

Better Homes & Gardens Ventura Outdoor Rocking Chair

Fre Sparkling Rosé

Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

Thank You for Listening for Julia Whelan

The Kindred Spirts Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert

Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert

Love, Luck & Lemon Pie by Amy E. Reichert

Women’s Paranormal Fiction on Amazon

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland

The Floating Feldmans by Elyssa Friedland

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

The Editor by Steven Rowley

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

Freaky Friday

The Seven Day Switch by Kelly Harms

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms

Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q Sutanto

Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q Sutanto

Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich

Connect With Us:

Mary on Instagram

The Couch Podcast with Mary Carver

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

This Will Be Funny Later (Interview With Jenny Pentland) Jun 10, 2022

Imagine your childhood becomes a sitcom. As the daughter of Roseanne Barr, Jenny Pentland knows a lot about this and documents her story in her riveting memoir, This Will Be Funny Later. This coming-of-age memoir isn’t about Roseanne though. Jenny shares her journey through her teen years from fat camps to wilderness boot camps to her stay in mental health facilities that brought to light the for-profit model of the troubled teen industry.

In today’s podcast, we discuss Pentland's early family life in working-class Denver and the life that they could have never imagined unfolded. We then follow her story as Roseanne finds success as a comedian and the family leaves behind the Rockies to head to Los Angeles.

What would it be like to watch the show of your own life? What if the number one question you got asked is “Are you Becky or Darlene?”

We discuss the disturbing freedom that publications like the National Enquirer had to pursue and exploit their family for profit and what it would be like to be a child swept up in the frenzy of tabloid fodder.

We also discuss the necessary work of memoir writing and how to learn to write your story objectively when it is so deeply personal.

Jenny’s encouraging words are the ones you need to hear if you want to write a memoir. Her life story filled with obstacles reminds us that we all have a story to share and we shouldn’t let life’s daily obstacles stop us from sharing it.

Mentioned in this episode:

This Will Be Funny Later by Jenny Pentland

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Book Gang Podcast: Best Backlist Books You Missed Part 1

Best Backlist Books You Missed (Part 2) Jun 03, 2022

No need to wait for the latest summer releases when you have this list of best backlist books to check out.

This is the second part of our discussion today.

My well-read co-host, Larry Hoffer, is back to talk about our favorite older books and why these should be in your stack this year too.

Not familiar with the term backlist or frontlist books? The book industry groups published books into two types- frontlist (titles that have sold in the current year) and backlist (titles that are older than a year).

We have resurrected some of our top recommendations in this two-part series that can keep you company while you wait for your library holds to come in. Today we discuss our favorites that are two years or more older.

This list of older books have brought us great joy over our reading years and we can't wait to tell you why these will make the perfect addition to your reading life too.

Mentioned in this episode:

This Year's Summer Reading Guide (The Best Beach Reads For Your Summer Stack)

This Will Be Funny Later by Jenny Pentland

In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead

Fool Me Once by Ashley Winstead

The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta

The Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers

Tobacco Wives Book Chat

Book Gang Podcast: Best Books of 2021 with Larry

Amy’s Email

Amy’s Instagram

House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Scribd

My Notorious Life by Kate Manning

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Kate Manning’s Author Page

Gilded Mountain by Kate Manning

Christodora by Tim Murphy

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

Philadelphia

The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels

Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong

Chemistry by Weike Wang

Joan is Okay by Weike Wang

Emergency Contact by Mary HK Choi

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Yolk by Mary HK Choi

Permanent Record by Mary HK Choi

The Two Family House by Linda Cohen Loigman

The Wartime Sisters by Linda Cohen Loigman

Book Gang Podcast: A Day In the Life of a Book Publicist with Kathleen Carter

Brooklyn

Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland

We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

Sadness is a White Bird by Moriel Rothman-Zecher

The Orphans of Race Point by Patry Francis

Amy’s Interview with Patry Francis

All the Children Are Home by Patry Francis

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

Book Gang Podcast: A Reader’s Backlist Book Challenge

Larry on Instagram

Larry on Goodreads

Best Backlist Books You Missed (Part 1) May 20, 2022

No need to wait for the latest summer releases when you have this list of best backlist books to check out.

My well-read co-host, Larry Hoffer, is back to talk about our favorite older books and why these should be in your stack this year too.

This list of older books have brought us great joy over our reading years and we can't wait to tell you why these will make the perfect addition to your reading life too.

Mentioned in this episode:

This Will Be Funny Later by Jenny Pentland

The Lady’s Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey

Bookclub Event

The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels

Larry’s Best Of List

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny

Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny

Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Party of One: A Memoir in 21 Songs by Dave Holmes

My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress by Rachel DeLoache Williams

Inventing Anna

The Thing About Pam

A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

Fatima Mirza and Riz Ahmed on the Oscars Red Carpet

Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt

Is This Tomorrow by Caroline Leavitt

Amy’s Interview with Caroline Leavitt

With or Without You by Caroline Leavitt

Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt

We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra

Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon

The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain

Did I Say You Could Go by Melanie Gideon

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Time and Again by Jack Finney

Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon

Connect With Us

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Larry on Instagram

Amy on A Slob Comes Clean Podcast

Improve Your Reading Focus and Memory May 13, 2022

Do you struggle with reading focus and retention? Paula Engebretson is a Certified Life Coach that specializes in helping adults with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) live their best life. Who better to lead us on reading strategies and reading comprehension than her?

At 31 years old, Paula was diagnosed with ADHD and had to learn how to create systems and routines that made sense with how her brain works. We discuss the symptoms of adult ADHD and how to begin the process of diagnosis and treatment.

Today’s goal is to give you real strategies for reading more and how you can begin working with your learning disability instead of against it. You don’t need ADHD to benefit from today’s episode. In these distracted times, all of us could benefit from this life coach’s advice!

Amy on The Mom Hour

How I Manage Life With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Amy's Guide)

The Lady’s Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey

Online Bookclub Chat

Book Gang Podcast Episode: Use These Cleaning Hacks for a Better Reading Life

I’m Busy Being Awesome

Paula on Instagram

Dr. Russell Barkley

ADDitude

CHADD

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink

brain.fm

Book Gang Podcast Episode: Booker of the Month

We’re Busy Being Awesome Small Groups

I’m Busy Being Awesome Podcast

I’m Busy Being Awesome on Facebook

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Bree Unabashedly on Instagram

Must-Read Books from Asian American and Pacific Islander Authors May 06, 2022

May is AAPI Heritage Month, and we want to celebrate these voices with a well-curated book stack. Kristin from Fables Books joins the show to talk about this month’s StoryGraph reading challenge and share some of their best picks for a memorable reading month.

I also bring a great book club selection, an under-the-radar book gem that swept me away, and debuts that pulled me out of reading slumps. This episode has you covered whether you are looking for your next fantasy adventure, YA romance, or historical fiction escape.

We want to remind our listeners that Fables is our partnered bookshop, and all of the links do go directly to their store. Remember, this shop also offers a used book collection. Please support our indie book shop.

Mentioned in this episode:

Book Gang Podcast: Falling for Holiday Romance

The Reading List Book Chat

Lady's Handbook Book Chat

Ehlers-Danlos

The Lady’s Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey

Fables Book Reading Challenge

Amy’s Interview with Celeste Ng

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

She Who Became The Sun by Shelly Parker-Chan

If I had Your Face by Frances Cha

The Tangleroot Palace: Stories by Marjorie Liu

Monstress by Marjorie Liu

Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee

Sari Not Sari by Sonya Singh

A River of Stars by Vanessa Hua

Forbidden City by Vanessa Hua

Blue-Skinned Gods by SJ Sindu

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories by Yu Chen & Regina Kanyu Wang

The Reading List Book Chat

Fables Books on Tik Tok

Booker of the Month Apr 22, 2022

When the 2019 Booker Prize longlist was announced, Deedi (@deedireads) challenged herself to read them over a year. Reading this prize-winning literature ended up changing her reading life forever.

Each year, this literary award (Booker Prize) for fiction is one of the most prestigious literary prizes given to an author. This prize is awarded to what is the best novel of the year written in the English language and published in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is a prize that can transform the winner's career. It can also change a reader's life.

We will be discussing Deedi's favorite Man Booker International Prize winners and how we can join her fun book club challenge on The StoryGraph. She shares her Booker of the Month details and where other readers can take this challenge with her.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

The Best Psychological Thriller Books to Read

DeediReads

The Booker Prizes

Women’s Prize for Fiction

National Book Award

The Hugo Awards

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Booker of the Month

Bernie Lombardi on Instagram

Literary Award Lounge Discord Server

The StoryGraph

Book Gang Podcast: How The StoryGraph Can Enhance Your Reading Life

How to Use The StoryGraph For A Better Reading Life

Fables Books Challenge

Alex Awards

Binge Mode

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Bewilderment by Richard Powers

My Sister The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson

Lanny by Max Porter

Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann

The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste

Deedi on Instagram

Deedi Speaking

Deedi on Twitter

Deedi’s Newsletter

From Deedi’s Couch

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Fables Books Reading Challenge 2022

MomAdvice on Patreon

Funny Books With Fables Books Apr 15, 2022

If you need some fun in your life, this podcast on the funniest books is for you. Kristin from Fables and I agree that we don’t gravitate toward lighthearted books so it is always a fun surprise when books like these bring us unexpected joy.

Expand your book stack beyond the funny classics like Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling, Bill Bryson, and Trevor Noah. This humorous book stack offers some under-the-radar books that hit all the right funny notes.

Whether you are looking for short stories, science fiction, a collection of essays, middle-aged hilarity, or coming-of-age YA humor- we have you covered.

We want to remind our listeners that Fables is our partnered bookshop and all of the links do go directly to their store. Remember, this shop also offers a used book collection. Please support our indie book shop.

Mentioned in this episode:

This Will Be Funny Later by Jenny Pentland

Book Gang Podcast: How The StoryGraph Can Enhance Your Reading Life

How to Use the StoryGraph App For a Better Reading Life

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny

Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton

Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton

Feral Creatures by Kira Jane Buxton

Kira Jane Buxton on Instagram

As You Wish by Cary Elwes

How to be Perfect by Michael Schur

You’ll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein essay

Inside Amy Schumer

Bossypants by Tina Faye

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores by Jennifer Campbell

What If Its Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

Here’s To Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokski

Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses

Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin

McSweeney’s

Funny or Die

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Bonus Books (From Fables Book Club):

All That She Carried by Tiya Miles

Network Effect by Martha Wells

Murderbot Diaries

House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Use These Cleaning Hacks For A Better Reading Life Apr 08, 2022

Dana K. White is a bestselling author who shares reality-based cleaning and organizing tips on her podcast, A Slob Comes Clean. This discussion embraces the best time-saving cleaning tricks so you can read more and focus less on cleaning.

Get her advice on the best decluttering projects to pair with audiobooks and a few of her favorite audiobooks this year.

Don’t miss the “container concept” that will help reduce the clutter quickly so you can do the things you love…like READING.

Mentioned in this episode:

A Slob Comes Clean

Amy’s Container Reorg

Unmissing by Minka Kent

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

Montana 1948 by Larry Watson

Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh

Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White

Organizing for the Rest of Us by Dana K. White

How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind by Dana K. White

Dana on YouTube

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

MomAdvice Book Club Shirt

A Day In The Life Of A Book Publicist Apr 01, 2022

Kathleen Carter has worked with bestselling authors for years and has launched publicity campaigns for many of our most treasured books. It takes a lot of know-how to work in the publishing industry and her book promotions have garnered the attention of many bestselling authors and literary agents.

Today we discuss how she landed this dream job, what goes into book publicity, and what really helps drive book sales for authors.

She also shares the social media scoop on how to land those advanced readers, how to write and tag your book reviews, and what helps book marketing the most. Bookstagrammers will love this thoughtful feedback and a glimpse at Kathleen’s reading routines.

We end our time with some of Kathleen’s favorite backlist and under-the-radar book gems that I can’t wait to check out.

Mentioned in this episode:

Reading Retreat

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Kirkus Reviews

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Kindle First Reads

Book of the Month

Dear Pope Francis by Pope Francis

Pope Francis Meets Children Letter Writers

Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave by Shyima Hall

People Magazine Shyima Hall: My Escape From Slavery

The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis

BookGang Podcast: Best Thriller Books You Might Have Missed with Mary Kubica

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

Inside Out by Demi Moore

Going There by Katie Couric

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel

Elin Hildebrand Literati Book Club

Limelight by Amy Poeppel

MadWoman by Louisa Treger

Viola Shipman

Magic Season: A Son’s Story by Wade Rouse

Connect With Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Kathleen on Twitter

Kathleen on Instagram

Kathleen Carter Communications

patreon.com/momadvice

Readable Award-Winning Books Mar 18, 2022

Award-winners don’t always yield a can’t-put-down book pace even if they make the critic’s best books of the year list. This episode is here to deliver on fast-paced reads with big themes.

Discover what makes a book qualify for these award categories (like the Alex Awards, Hugo Award, or Edgar Award) and get the book reviews you need to make the most notable award-winning choices for your reading life.

Today’s stack offers the best in thrillers, science fiction, contemporary literature, and even suggestions you can enjoy with your young adult. So whether you are looking for fiction or nonfiction, we have you covered.

Fables Books brings their favorite award-winners as we continue to work our way through their Storygraph reading challenge.

Mentioned in this episode:

Book Gang Podcast Episode 25: How The StoryGraph Can Enhance Your Reading Life

Book Gang Podcast Episode 22: Books About Books with Fables Books

Fables Books 2022 Reading Challenge

Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson

Maus Volume 1 by Art Spiegelman

Maus Volume 2 by Art Spiegelman

The Pulitzer Prize

Alex Awards

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

The One Hundred Years of Lenni & Margot by Marianne Cronin

Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison

MomAdvice Interview with Jonathan Evison

The Book of Delights by Ross Gay

Indiana Authors Awards

National Book Critics Circle Awards

Evicted by Matthew Desmond

The Hugo Awards

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Edgar Awards

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

Nebula Awards

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

Lambda Literary Awards

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Annabel by Kathleen Winter

National Book Awards

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Fables Books & MomAdvice

Fables Books on TikTok

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Nadia Odunayo on Instagram

How The StoryGraph Can Enhance Your Reading Life Mar 11, 2022

Who better to lead us on using The StoryGraph app than Nadia Odunayo- the CEO and Founder of The StoryGraph app. Nadia shares how the design’s simple tracking and insightful stats tool can enrich your reading life. These personalized recommendations are based on your mood and can curate the perfect read for any mood occasion.

Today we discussed who were the users for The StoryGraph's features. We also discuss the critical differences between GoodReads and The StoryGraph, like buddy reads, book club challenges, and content warnings.

Learn why I’m making the switch away from GoodReads after our discussion. I can’t wait to discover books this year through these curated lists and reading challenges.

Today’s episode includes a readable guide on How to Use the StoryGraph (linked in show notes) as we take you on a screen-by-screen capture of described features in our interview.

Mentioned in this episode:

The StoryGraph

The StoryGraph Roadmap

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

What It Means When A Man Falls From the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah

A Little Hope by Ethan Joella

Nadia Odunayo on Twitter

The StoryGraph on Instagram

The StoryGraph on Twitter

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

The Opinionated Reader on Instagram

Strong Book Opinions Wanted Mar 04, 2022

Lindsay (@theopinionatereader) may have been tasked with the most challenging podcast assignment yet, but it seemed fitting for a bookstagrammer that builds a brand on strong book opinions. So today we discuss three books she loved and three books she hated. Learn some of the best practices for sharing negative book reviews and what surprising author friendship blossomed from a positive book review.

CONTENT WARNINGS FOR TODAY (with timestamps):
Today's episode does have trigger warnings for the last portion of our show (in the negative review section).

The negative reviews do have spoilers.

43:05- A rape case is mishandled and there is a discussion on how this case would actually be handled based on Lindsay's background (and her husband's background) working as a sex crime's detective and intern in the sex crimes unit.

52:52- May be triggering to those facing disabilities because it is about someone being dishonest about a health diagnosis.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Bath Haus by P.J. Vernon

A Little Hope by Ethan Joella

Bath Haus Review on Patreon

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Book of Harlan by Bernice McFadden

Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Kruger

Setting Free the Kites by Alex George

A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler

Such A Fun Age by Kylie Reid

When You Hate Your Neighbor, and Then Your Kids Start Dating by Kiley Reid in the NY Times

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez

Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

The Spoon Theory

Connect With Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Lindsay is @theopinionatedreader on Instagram

Join the Book Gang on Patreon

Lessons For Writing Your First Book (With Ethan Joella) Feb 18, 2022

A Little Hope was selected as a Read With Jenna & Book of the Month Selection, but Ethan Joella is here to tell you that writing your first book can be quite the journey.

Ethan knows all about good writing, in fact, he instructs his students on this topic. Today we are talking about the structure of this beautifully interconnected story in a sleepy seaside town and why good stories are often made up of those little-noticed details.

Landing the traditional publishing deal for his debut fiction book took a lot of writing time and patience, but this novel ended up landing in just the right hands at the perfect time. It’s a magical story that I think you will really appreciate.

Today we are discussing this journey from book idea to bestselling author. Ethan candidly shares about his writing process and how social media has been a proven connection tool for published authors to get the word out about their beautiful books.

What story idea do you need to make happen? We hope this episode brings the motivation you need for your next writing session. This is the episode you need if you want to start writing and finish your book this year. I hope it inspires you to push through writer’s block and devote even fifteen minutes a day to making your literary dreams happen.

Mentioned in this episode:

Ethan Joella

The Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

MomAdvice Interview with Bill Clegg

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

A Little Hope by Ethan Joella

Did You Ever Have A Family by Bill Clegg

Ernie’s Ark by Monica Wood

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

When It Happens to You by Molly Ringwald

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

Book of the Month

Alexandra Daddario

The People We Keep by Alison Larkin

Read with Jenna

Book of Harlan by Bernice McFadden

The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler

Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler

Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan

Jhumpa Lahiri

Curtis Sittenfeld

In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson is Buried by Amy Hempel

John Cheever

Ernest Hemingway

Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward

The Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild

Ethan Joella on Instagram

Ethan Joella on Twitter

A Little Hope on Amazon

A Little Hope on Target

A Little Hope on Barnes & Noble

A Little Hope on Goodreads

Books About Books Feb 11, 2022

This month, Kristin from Fables Books joins us to explore books about books through the brand new Fables Books Reading Challenge! We discuss our favorite books that embrace fictional bookstore settings and libraries. This episode has you covered whether you are looking for a love story or that perfect true crime nonfiction book escape with. This is the stack you need for your next book club night and can be a great bonding tool for ANYONE who simply loves books.

If you love reading, these backlist forgotten books are perfect for fans of comforting reading escape. I don’t know a book lover that wouldn't want to read a book about books and reading. There is nothing better than celebrating the power of books and everyone who loves them.

Along with today’s discussion, we are also talking about The Storygraph tool and how you can join the bookstore’s challenge or any other challenge to expand your reading life this year. Learn how this tool can be used in conjunction with your Goodreads profile or as a complete replacement for tracking and discovering your next stack of books.

Mentioned in this Episode:

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zenter

Fables Books 2022 Reading Challenge

Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson

The Charm Offensive by Allison Cochrun

Beach Read by Emily Henry

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk

Library Reads List

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher

Ulysses by James Joyce

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

Outlawed by Anna North

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

No Offense by Meg Cabot

Little Bridge Island Series

Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston

Once Upon a Con Series

The StoryGraph

StoryGraph Team

Fables Challenge on StoryGraph

Smartest Person in the Room

Fables Books on TikTok

Must-Read True Crime Books (with Laura Tremaine) Feb 04, 2022

Debut novelist, Laura Tremaine, wrote a gorgeous little book called Share Your Stuff I'll Go First and might be a familiar voice to you because of her podcast 10 Things to Tell You.

Not only will we be talking about Laura's experience writing her first book, but we will also be discussing the must-read true crime books you need to add to your stack.

I knew we would have a lot of fun discussing these books and we are going to be sharing about that in the second half of the hour in our show. Laura comes with strong opinions including how you can't call yourself a true crime enthusiast if you haven't read THESE classics.

Mentioned in this episode:

Laura Tremaine

Hollywood Housewife

Sorta Awesome

10 Things to Tell You

Share Your Stuff, I’ll Go First by Laura Tremaine

Stephen King Summer Book Club

Mom Advice Book Club

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

Carrie by Stephen King

Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King

Misery by Stephen King

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Billy Summers by Stephen King

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

The Stranger Beside Me Original by Ann Rule

The Stranger Beside Me Twentieth Anniversary Edition by Ann Rule

Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi

And The Sea Will Tell by Vincent Bugliosi

Under The Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Missoula by Jon Krakauer

Columbine by Dave Cullen

Laura’s Instagram

Laura’s Patreon

Laura’s newsletter

Laura Tremaine Link Tree

Hopes & Heartbreaks of Pandemic Publishing Jan 28, 2022

This week's podcast is another "Bookishly Curious" episode that explores the hopes and heartbreaks of pandemic publishing. Gae Polisner joins me, a YA author that's 2020 book launch was rocked by changes in the publishing industry, bringing repeated challenges to the sales of her book.

I believe that it is impossible to listen to this episode and not learn something new because Gae shows up in the only one that she knows how- authentically and vulnerably. Book printing wasn't the only challenge with this book. It is much more profound than that, and we are uncovering those layers with the challenges of being a midlist author, how author earnings work, and how this may affect future sales.

There isn't just heartbreak here, though, because Gae brings hope too. We learn what she is working on next and what best practices to help authors succeed.

If you want to better understand the book shortage before listening, Episode 9 (The Book Shortage Dilemma) is an essential discussion on how supply chain issues affect the book retail industry. This episode discusses how a paper shortage and labor shortage limited many printed book sales because the materials were not accessible for these printing runs. The printing capacity indeed changed book sales for many authors. It's so much bigger than that as we unbox what happened from a bookseller's perspective too.

Please note: Gae was having construction done at her home during our taping. We apologize for any distracting noise that might be happening during this show. I hope it won't take away from all these valuable and beautiful lessons Gae is sharing.

Mentioned in this episode:

Gae Polisner

Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner

MomAdvice Reading Retreat

Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas

Seven Clues to Home by Gae Polisner

In Sight of Stars by Gae Polisner

MomAdvice In Sight of Stars Book Chat

Cult of Pedagogy Blog

Changing Hands Bookstore

Gae Polisner Personal Page

Robbie Crouch

The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner

Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me on audiobook

gaepol on Twitter

gaepol on Instagram

Gae Polisner Author Page

Consider the Octopus by Gae Polisner

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Sneak Peek FULLY BOOKED Jan 21, 2022

The new FULLY BOOKED show is just what your reading life needs. We are giving you a sneak peek into our new Patreon show with a brand new co-host! Get the scoop on all the latest releases, discover the latest in bookish entertainment news, and find out what books to anticipate in the weeks ahead. This episode will get you all caught up on all those new and shiny releases. Listen to this before your next library day!

Looking for the printable newsletter version of today's show? You will find it here!

Mentioned in this episode:

Larry on the BookGang Podcast

Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

The Man Who Lived Underground by Richard Wright

Native Son by Richard Wright

Atlas of the Heart By Brene Brown

How to Resist Amazon and Why by Danny Caine

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

Vox by Christina Dalcher

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Maid by Nita Prose

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Early Morning Riser by Katherine Helny

Standard Deviation by Katherine Helny

The Book of Harlan by Bernice McFadden

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Bright Burning Things by Lisa Harding

Room by Emma Donoghue

Wahala by Nikki May

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

Sarah’s Bookshelves

Golden Boys by Phil Stamper

The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper

As Far As You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper

Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian

Teen Killers Club by Lily Sparks

The Collective by Allison Gaylin

Do No Harm by Christina McDonald

False Witness by Karin Slaughter

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

MomAdvice Daily Kindle Deals

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First by Laura Tremaine

Laura Tremaine on Instagram

Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Running Wild by K.A. Tucker

The Simple Wild Series by K.A. Tucker

Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor

Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manasala

Goodbye Again by Mariah Stewart

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

Connect With Us:

Amy on Instagram

MomAdvice

Larry's Bookstagram Account

It's Either Sadness or Bookphoria Blog

MomAdvice on Patreon (to get FULLY BOOKED monthly!)

The Best in Steam and Scream Jan 14, 2022

Chip runs the Steam & Scream Book Club and brings his favorite book club romance and thrillers to our show today. His eye for steam, in particular, landed him a book cover deal with a romance writer that's just the kind of story you need to to hear today.

Chip also brings his professional photography background to our show to discuss simple ways to document your reading year that will fit any budget and how to streamline your photo editing process.

What I love the most about today's episode is that two of our selections today are self-published, a notable detail that I think is worth celebrating.

Regarding sound: this concludes the "Amy was hooked up to her web cam and not her microphone" show series. Thank you for bearing with me as I learn and grow. The sound greatly improves next week, I promise. Oh, how I have been humbled!

Mentioned in this episode:

Chip on Instagram booksovrbros

MomAdvice Reading Retreat

Lightroom app

Ache by Marley Valentine

Steam & Scream Book Club on Discord

Steam & Scream Merch on Bonfire

Joanna on Instagram booksjojoreads

Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge

The Charm Offensive by Allison Cochran

Without You by Marley Valentine

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

Elena Armas on Instagram thebibliotheque

The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly

MomAdvice Interview with Mary Louise Kelly

Bath Haus by P.J. Vernon

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

Fool Me Once by Ashley Winstead

The Acts of Life by Kristin Mulligan

Kristin Mulligan on Instagram read.it.and.sleep

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

Laurie Frankel Interview on MomAdvice

Best Books of 2021 (Part 2) Jan 07, 2022

Looking for the second half of our Best Books of 2021?

We are here for you!

It’s time for the best books of 2021, and who better to lead us through this year than MomAdvice Book Gang superstar Larry. Larry ranks 28th as a top reviewer for GoodReads and has read over 360 books (so far) this year. I have read a modest 109 for our stack. We were each challenged to bring our top twenty best books of the year to the show today and this is the second half of our discussion. Did you miss the first half? You can listen here!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

The Editor by Steven Rowley

A Star is Bored by Byron Lane

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby

Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby

One Two Three by Laurie Frankel

This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel

Catch Us When We Fall by Juliette Fay

The Push by Ashley Audrain

The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

In my Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

A Little Hope by Ethan Joella

Did You Ever Have A Family by Bill Clegg

The Power of Ritual by Casper Her Kuile

Book Gang Episode 2: Reading Rituals and Comforting Reads

The Charm Offensive by Allison Cochrun

We Begin in the End by Chris Whitaker

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood

Cosmology of Monsters by Sean Patrick Hopkins

Larry on Goodreads

Larry on Bookstagram

It’s Either Sadness or Bookphoria

Best Books of 2021 (Part 1) Dec 31, 2021

Please note: Apologies for the audio on this episode. I was experiencing some technical difficulties that I hope it will not take away from your listening experience today.

It’s time for the best books of 2021, and who better to lead us through this year than MomAdvice Book Gang superstar Larry. Larry ranks 28th as a top reviewer for GoodReads and has read over 360 books (so far) this year. So we were each challenged to bring our top twenty best books of the year to the show today.

There is a wide range of stories for every reader today. We have discovered it isn’t always the Pulitzer Prize-winning novels, award-winning authors, or those New York Times bestsellers that end up making our list. This list showcases the beauty of a good storyteller and our deep mutual affection for debuts. Whether you are looking for short story format, science fiction, historical fiction, love stories, family dramas, true stories, or just a diverse cast of characters…. we have you covered! Escape real-life with these fast page-turners and plan for your best reading year in 2022.

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

Sorry to Bother You

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang

A History of Wild Places by Shea Emshaw

Bird Box by Josh Malerman

How Lucky by Will Leitch

Rear Window

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

We Are Watching Eliza Bright by A.E. Osworth

Bewilderment by Richard Powers

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Charly

Tin Man by Sarah Winman

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant

The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood

An Unexpected Kind of Love by Hayden Stone

Notting Hill

Finley Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

The Damage by Caitlin Wahrer

The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman

My Notorious Life by Kate Manning

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

Dopesick on Hulu

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zenter

Hare Psychopathy Checklist

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

Teen Killers Club by Lily Sparks

Squid Game on Netflix

Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky

Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

Big Night

Larry's Bookstagram Account

It's Either Sadness or Bookphoria Blog

Larry's GoodReads Profile

Cozy Up With These Winter Reads Dec 17, 2021

In search of cozy winter reads? Mary from Currently Reading joins the show to share her top 5 recommendations for our best winter book stack. So let's prep for the season with these book suggestions and set the winter mood with our ideas for your coziest, comfiest reading night.

Mentioned in this episode:

Larry's Episode (What It Takes To Be a Top GoodReads Reviewer)

Currently Reading Podcast

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Crafted by Catherine Blankets

Plum Deluxe Custard Apple Cherimoya Tea

Tazo Glazed Lemon Loaf Tea

ASMR room ambience

Big White Yeti Candles

Big White Yeti Kitten Toots

Big White Yeti Frankenstein & Myrrh

Stars Above at Target

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Olive & June

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram

Mary on Goodreads

Amy on GoodReads

MomAdvice 2022 Book Club Selections

Falling For (Holiday) Romance Dec 10, 2021

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Are you ready to fall in love with holiday romance books? Spend the holidays with these feel-good Christmas romance books that celebrate the holiday season by finding love in all of those magical places. Whether you are looking for a home for Christmas theme or embrace a small-town love story, we have you covered. Find your one true love book with my special guest Bree from @falling4romance and co-host of The Categorically Romance Podcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

TheCategoricallyRomancePodcast

falling4romance

Sleep Phones

Todd's Episode (A Friendly GoodReads Competition)

Buzzfeed's 24 Black Bookstagrammers Who Should Be On Your Radar

Bree’s Instagram

Susanna Kearsly

Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Beverly Jenkins

Jill Shalvis

The Wildstone Series

Chat with Jill Shalvis

A Wedding One Christmas by Therese Beharrie

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

Love at the Icicle Cafe by Denise N. Wheatley

Christmas in Full Bloom by Denise N. Wheatley

Denise N. Wheatly on Bree’s Podcast

One Day in December by Josie Silver

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Lizzie Shane

Coming Home for Christmas by RaeAnne Thayne

RaeAnne Thayne on Bree’s Podcast

The Clause in Christmas by Rachael Bloome

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Landing Page With All the Book Club Info For This Year:

2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections Dec 01, 2021

Today is the launch day of the MomAdvice 2022 Book Club year. Do you want to have the best reading year ever? I'm going to give you that with these twelve book club selections for our year. This episode will tell you everything you need to know about how to join the online club, what special bonus features we are offering our members, and the inside scoop on this year's books.

https://wp.me/p6sEAo-8ey

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

MomAdvice Free Online Book Club

The Best Thriller Books You Might Have Missed with Mary Kubica Nov 19, 2021

Mary Kubica joins the podcast to talk about her writing process and her latest domestic thriller, Local Woman Missing. Her journey from writing in secret to a successful award-winning suspense writer is the story you need to hear if you have been entertaining a writing dream of your own. We have a shared love for true crime and talk about the real-life cases that have influenced her work. I may be one of Mary’s biggest fans, and her newest edge-of-your-seat page-turner is just what you need to get you out of a reading slump. Mary is bringing 3 of her favorite under-the-radar thrillers to today’s episode, and I think they will surprise you as much as me. I’m also sharing a few of my favorite psychological thrillers that deliver on those unreliable narrators and murder mystery plots that kept me up until the wee hours of the night. So, if thriller writing is something you have been entertaining, I hope today’s episode offers the inspiration you need to kick start your writing career.

Mentioned in this episode:

Mary’s Interview on momadvice.com

Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica

Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica

When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Where I Lost Her by T Greenwood

Rust & Stardust by T Greenwood

Bodies of Water by T Greenwood

The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald

Do No Harm by Christina McDonald

This is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

Don’t Believe It by Charlie Donlea

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

What It Takes To Be A Top Goodreads Reviewer Nov 12, 2021

Goodreads is the world's largest site for readers and many of us rely on it every day to make our own book choices. Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a top GoodReads reviewer on a platform with millions of members? Larry ranks 28th in the world on this platform and is giving us a peek into his daily reading life and how he shares books. Learn his preferred format to read a book, the process to rate and review books, how the GoodReads reviewer ranking works, his experience with review copies, and how he gained his loyal following. He offers 5 great books we should add to our stack immediately and I couldn't check them out fast enough. These fiction book recommendations include a couple that hit all the right notes for both of us.

Mentioned in this episode:

A Friendly Goodreads Competition

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Tin Man Sarah Winman

The Dearly Beloved Cara Wall

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

To Kill a MockingBird by Harper Lee

The Charm Offensive by Allison Cochrun

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

UnREAL TV series

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby

Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby

It’s Either Sadness or Bookphoria…

the.bookishworld.of.yrralh

Connect With Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Larry H. on goodreads.com

Larry H. on Instagram

Contact Information: amy@momadvice.com

Support My Work: https://www.patreon.com/momadvice

This post contains affiliate links.

A Reader's Backlist Book Challenge Nov 05, 2021

New releases are fun, but what if you dedicated a reading year to backlist books? From Our Bookshelf blogger, Lynn, shares her favorite backlist challenge discoveries. Today's episode defines what it means to be backlist, how our pandemic shopping changed the backlist marketing budget, and some surprising publishing house acquisitions because of single backlist books.

Mentioned in this episode:

Under-the-Radar Books & Pivoting Back to Passion Interview

Book Clubs for Homeschooling Moms Interview

The Mother of Reinvention Podcast

Backlist to the Future

Why Backlists Matter to Bookstores

We Need to Talk About the Backlist

LynnsKitchenAdventures.com

lynnskitchenadventures on Instagram

FromOurBookshlelf.com

fromourbookshelf on Instagram

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom

No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

Syria’s Secret Library by Mike Thomson

Fire in Beulah by Rilla Askew

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Contact Information: amy(at)momadvice.com

Support My Work: https://www.patreon.com/momadvice

This post contains affiliate links.

The Book Shortage Dilemma Oct 29, 2021

Supply chain disruption has impacted many industries, including our beloved booksellers. So who better to guide us through what this book shortage looks like than an independent bookstore owner. Kristin from Fables Books shares how these shortages impact booksellers and what we need to know for this holiday season.

Mentioned in this episode:

Why Authors and Booksellers Want You To Order Your Holiday Gifts Now

Book of the Month

Fablesbooks.com

Out of Print at Fables Books

Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Fables Books on Bookshop.org

libro.fm

Fables Books on mymustreads.com

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson

The Indie Next List by Indie Bound

Follow Amy on Instagram

The Great Book Escape Oct 22, 2021

Are you looking for an escape from reality? We have you covered! In today's episode, Kristina Reid, shares a few of her favorite books that allowed her to escape real life and travel somewhere else through her book stack. You won't want to miss this fun break from IRL.

Mentioned in this episode:

@reidingwithk on Instagram

The Guild Codex Reading Order

Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas

How to Save a Life by Eva Carter

Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Crocodile on the Sandbake by Elizabeth Peters

Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah

Fable: A Novel by Adrienne Young

Namesake by Adrienne Young

Three Mages and a Margarita by Annette Marie

The One and Only Crystal Druid by Annette Marie

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

An Unforgettable Meet-the-Author Road Trip Oct 15, 2021

When a reader entered a local library contest to meet Emily St. John Mandel, she sent me a message to ask if I would come to Ohio and share the experience with her. This correspondence led to an unforgettable road trip and an experience that I won't ever forget. Carie's also sharing the joy she has found in running a middle-grade book club for her daughter. So be sure to tune in for all of her excellent book recommendations.

Mentioned in this episode:

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory Movie

Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Dyspraxia

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda the Musical

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

My Life As A Potato by Arianne Costner

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

Kristina Reid - ReidingwithK

The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman

The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels

All the Young Men by Ruth Coker Burks

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Find Carrie on Goodreads

Get today's bonus episodes (and listener perks) by joining our Patreon community- https://www.patreon.com/momadvice

This post contains affiliate links.

A Friendly Goodreads Challenge Oct 08, 2021

My secret weapon to reading more books is a friendly annual Goodreads competition with my childhood friend Todd Greer. Todd is joining the podcast today to share about motivating each other to read more books. We have discovered how we read is very different from one another, but we usually end up almost at the same amount of books every year. We will dive into that more and learn about a few books I haven't gotten to read yet this year.

Books Mentioned in Today’s Episode

Andy Wier Interview on MomAdvice

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Price of Time by Tim Tigner

Billy Summers by Stephen King

Effortless by Greg McKeown

The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels

Also Mentioned in Today’s Episode

Todd Greer on Goodreads

Enneagram

Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath

The Martian by Andy Weir

11/22/63 by Stephen King

It by Stephen King

Laura Tremaine

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Power of Ritual by Casper her Kuile

The One by John Marrs

Lucky Boy by Shanthi Sekaran

Bryce Courtenay

The Best of 2021 TV Meets Its Book Match Oct 01, 2021

Television shows that are as plot-filled as your favorite books? Sign me up! From The Couch podcast, Mary Carver joins my show to share what television series made her list for must-see tv in 2021. Then, I will play her book matchmaker and give her a stack that's just as satisfying as the shows she loved this year.

Books and Shows Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Only Murders in the Building

Finlay Donovan is Killing It

Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

Miss Scarlet and the Duke

The Impossible Girl

Mary Carver on Instagram

The Couch Podcast

Also Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

5 Ways to Date Your Husband This Fall

Something Borrowed

Survive the Night

17 Movies from the '90s You Must Share With Your Kids

11 Shows to Watch With Your Tween

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Contact Information: amy@momadvice.com

Support My Work: https://www.patreon.com/momadvice

What Makes a Great Book Club Book? Sep 17, 2021

Today's episode is a peek behind the scenes at how I select our book club books each year. Whether you are running a book club of your own and looking for suggestions or if you join in monthly to read with me, I want to share with you what I've learned over the years about book selection and building meaningful conversations around books.

Books Mentioned In Today’s Episode:

2021 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

The Paris Architect

The Orphans of Race Point

When No One is Watching

The Book of Lost Names

The Midnight Library

Also Mentioned In Today’s Episode:

Full Interview with Charles Belfoure (The Paris Architect)

Full Interview with Anthony Marr (A Constellation of Vital Phenomena)

Full Interview with Patry Francis (The Orphans of Race Point)

2020 GoodReads Choice Awards

Connect With Me:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Knitting in the City Series

Contact Information: amy@momadvice.com

Support My Work: https://www.patreon.com/momadvice

This post contains affiliate links.

Bring on the Romance Books Sep 10, 2021

My guest today, Angela Pingel, has been a romance book reader for many years. She has discovered her love for series reading through the Kindle Unlimited format and shares her picks for the best books to pick up. Her most-loved romance genre was new to me and incredibly intriguing for a newbie to the romance world.

MomAdvice Book Gang Patreon (join to get today's bonus episode with 5 under-the-radar romance novels that I could not put down)

Books Mentioned In Today’s Episode:

Kulti by Mariana Zapata

Winston Brothers Series

Christina Lauren Books

Get a Life, Chloe Brown

The Kiss Quotient

The Time Traveler's Wife

Bromance Book Club Series

The Veil Diaries Series

The Stardust Series

Also Mentioned In Today’s Episode:

Angela Pingel (website)

Angela Pingel (instagram)

Angela's Book (A Quilter's Mixology)

Book Nerd Quilt

Curious Dream Fabric (inspired by Alice in Wonderland)

Bridgerton The Musical

Try a 30-Day Kindle Unlimited Membership For Free

A Beginner's Guide to Reverse Harem Books

Connect With Us:

Amy is @momadvice on Instagram

Angela is @angelapingel on Instagram

Contact Information: amy@momadvice.com

Support My Work: https://www.patreon.com/momadvice

This post contains affiliate links.

Reading Rituals and Comforting Reads Sep 03, 2021

Today, I am inviting you to peek into my reading rituals and how I set the reading mood at the beginning and end of my day. With a commitment to read 100 books each year, these practices help me prioritize my reading time and have taught me to treat this as a sacred ritual for keeping my reading goals. Discover this and four enjoyable reads to add to your stack this month.

Books Mentioned In Today’s Episode:

The Lager Queen of Minnesota

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my new MomAdvice Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale, and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Also Mentioned In Today’s Episode:

Bonus Patreon Episode: 9 Books I Read in August