Book Squad Goals

Latest Episodes:

BSG #94: Cold Mommy / Come and Get It Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

We’re going back to college to talk about Come and Get It by Kiley Reid! There’s a lot to cover in the book, and issues of race, classism, and plain old mean girl behavior all come up. Plus, learn about the Squad’s weird and wonderful college jobs! Considering how much buzz Kiley Reid received for her first novel, Such a Fun Age, you won’t want to miss the talk about her latest work. Does it hold up like the first novel? Come and get it!
And tune into our next episode for a very special episode celebrating Mary and Todd’s soon-to-be baby! The Squad will present short presentations on their favorite special topics, joined by baby daddy Todd!
Next Othersode: Mary’s Big Baby Bonanza! Special Presentations feat. Todd
Next episode: A Magical Girl Retires by Seolyeon Park
TOC:
:30 – Welcome!
10:59 – Book Intro
12:34 – What is up with this low Goodreads rating?
21:36 – If “nothing happens,” why did this book feel so fast paced?
25:00 – The characters, and especially Kennedy
46:52 – Agatha
1:04:28 – Money
1:11:00 – Race
1:16:26 – Target
1:21:10 – Ratings!
1:25:00 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Othersode #93: My Demon Totoro / The Blackcoat's Daughter with Paul Tremblay May 28, 2024

Show notes

Special guest Paul Tremblay (author of The Cabin at the End of the World, Survivor Song, and the forthcoming Horror Movie) joins the Squad to talk about one of our favorite underrated horror films, The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2017). We talk about the movie’s unique take on possession, the performances, the (somewhat controversial?) ending, and the dangers of having Spring Break in February. Then we chat with Paul about his new novel, Horror Movie! Don’t worry – there are no spoilers in this interview, so you can listen before you read it. And we DO recommend you read it because we all loved it. You don’t want to miss this fun conversation! Our next Bookpisode will be about Come and Get It by Kiley Reid (June 11), and our next Othersode is a very special pre-maternity leave/baby shower episode where Mary gets to pick an unhinged thing for us all to talk about (June 25)! Please consider supporting us on Patreon and leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! And pre-order Horror Movie, on sale June 11th.
TOC:
:30 – Welcome, Paul! And icebreaker
13:00 – Movie intro
14:32 – What makes this possession story special?
20:30 – Performances
32:38 – The ending and how it has been interpreted
41:31 – Overall thoughts on the movie…and why were they going on break in February?
51:00 – Paul talks all things Horror Movie! (Spoiler free!)
1:34:34 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?
Links
Unfriended episode: https://www.booksquadgoals.com/blog/othersode-14-unfriended
House of the Devil episode: https://www.booksquadgoals.com/blog/pizza-is-satanic-clay-mcleod-chapman
Emily's original review of The Blackcoat's Daughter: https://www.booksquadgoals.com/blog/10-weeks-of-spooktober-the-blackcoats-daughter-week-7-of-10?rq=blackcoat
Vulture 'ending explained': https://www.vulture.com/2017/03/blackcoats-daughter-ending.html

BSG #93: Shout-out to Billee the Cat / The Centre May 15, 2024

Show notes

Spend ten days with us as we become fluent in the language of literary criticism! For our discussion of Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi’s debut novel The Centre, the squad breaks our usual form and starts with the ending first. From there, we share our thoughts on the book’s main character, its ideas about translation, the role classism plays in the story, and, crucially, blowjobs (just blowjobs in general, not the role classism plays in blowjobs). Be sure to tune in for our next episode on May 28th when we’ll be joined by the incredible Paul Tremblay for a chat about overlooked horror films including The Blackcoat’s Daughter and an interview about his phenomenal new book, Horror Movie. Then, read along for our next bookpisode on June 11th, when we’ll discuss Come and Get It by Kiley Reid. Send your feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com, subscribe to us on Patreon, and follow us on social @booksquadgoals!
TOC:
:30 – Welcome!
6:12 – Book intro
10:29 – Immediately talking about the ending
27:28 – Let’s talk about Anisa
31:48 – BJ corner
40:25 – Class stuff
53:21 – Thoughts on translation
1:08:00 – Ratings!
1:11:59 – A statement about Palestine
1:14:39 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?
Links:
All the Books: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-the-books/id993284374?mt=2
Jewish Voice for Peace: https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/
@PalestinianYouthMovement: https://www.instagram.com/palestinianyouthmovement/ https://palestinianyouthmovement.com/

Othersode #92: Carrie Soto Must Die / Apples Never Fall Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

This week the Squad goes to sunny Florida (NOT Australia) to discuss the Peacock series Apples Never Fall, based on the novel by Liane Moriarty. We talk about the differences between the book and the series, the family dynamics, the acting (including the tennis acting), and other Liane Moriarty adaptations we’ve seen. Then we get into some feedback on Irish Wish because we have to talk about Irish Wish at least once per episode. Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi on 5/14. Then join us and very special guest Paul Tremblay for a chat about The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Paul’s new novel, Horror Movie, on 5/28! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review wherever you listen (but especially Apple Podcasts) and please consider becoming a patron for just $3 a month!
TOC:
30– Welcome! And icebreaker
10:15–Show intro
11:30–Differences between the book and the show
33:50–The Delaney Family
48:13– Let’s talk about Savannah.
52:40–Other characters, who’d you identify with?
54:20–Susan’s Tennis Corner
59:19– Liane Moriarty Thoughts
1:07:15– Listener Feedback!
1:11:05– What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

BSG #92: Iconically Weird Behavior / The Sun Sets in Singapore Apr 17, 2024

Show notes

Get transported to the other side of the world with the squad (minus Mary) as we discuss The Sun Sets in Singapore, the debut novel by Kehinde Fadipe! We discuss the main characters’ struggles and story arcs, the women’s friendships, the ~drama~, and the setting. Then we get into some listener feedback and catch up with what’s on the Book Squad Blog! Steal your friend’s Peacock login info to watch Apples Never Fall for our next Othersode on 4/30. Then read along with us for our next Bookpisode on The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi on 5/14. Send your feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com and don’t forget to leave us a rating and review!
TOC
:30 – welcome!
8:25 – book intro
13:20 – which story were you most interested in?
20:45 – friendship!
29:18 – the Jenna bush of it all
49:38 – ratings
56:04 – listener feedback!
1:00:16 – what’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Othersode #91: But What if It Did? / Irish Wish Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

You probably didn’t think we were going to cover the new Lindsay Lohan Netflix film Irish Wish…but what if we did?? Come along to the Emerald Isle with the squad and special guest Nathan Simmons, co-host of Oh! That’s a Scary Movie podcast, as we discuss the nature of wishes, what it means to “be” Irish, couture fashion, and the James Joyce of it all. Plus, enjoy a very special tangent on the screenwriter and her many, many favorite things. Read along for our next Bookpisode about The Sun Sets in Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe on 4/16, and check out the Peacock series Apples Never Fall (based on the Liane Moriarty novel) for our next Othersode on 4/23. PS: We would loooove a five-star rating if the spirit of St. Brigid moves you!
TOC:
0:30 — Welcome, Nathan! And icebreaker
10:50 – Movie intro
13:20 – What’s this movie’s whole deal?
20:02 – The wish
41:28 – Who wrote this?? And more miscellaneous comments
51:53 – What is everyone wearing?
56:32 – Why is this set in Ireland?
59:00 — James Joyce
1:07:03 – Ratings
1:09:54 – Reedback
1:12:00 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?
Links: https://www.vulture.com/article/netflix-irish-wish-is-an-ai-generated-harbinger-of-doom.html

BSG #91: Giambattista Basile: My Enemy / Thornhedge Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Mirror, mirror, on the wall... oh wait, that was our last book. Join the squad on another journey into the land of fairytales and their tropes as we discuss Thornhedge, the latest novella by T. Kingfisher. Special guest Jen educates us on everything from the Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index to the many crimes of Giambattista Basile, and Susan educates us on The Frog Prince (1986). Make sure to tune in next time, when we'll be joined by Nathan Simmons of the Oh! That's a Scary Movie podcast for a discussion of the latest Lindsay Lohan/Netflix vehicle, Irish Wish (4/2), and read along for our next bookpisode on The Sun Sets In Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe (4/16). Follow us on social media @booksquadgoals, subscribe to our Patreon, leave us a rating and review on the Apple podcasts app, and send LITERALLY any feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com!
TOC:
:30 – Icebreaker Q, welcome Jen!
5:05 – Book intro
6:50 – Tale types
14:48 – What’s up with Toadling?
24:13 – Other subversive fairy tales?
28:42 – Halim
41:00 – Fayette and the ending of the book
49:00 – Why do we keep retelling tales?
52:44 – Ratings
56:44 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?
Links:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/emily-and-ben-beat-cancer

Othersode #90: Leo's Lemonade / This Is Me... Now Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

From the hearts…the minds…the dreams…of the Book Squad…comes a special discussion of the Jennifer Lopez film? visual album? This Is Me…Now. It’s hard to describe our chat because it’s hard to describe this project. But some topics we cover include: celebrity zodiac signs, eye-roll moments, which husband is which, and the meaning of a factory. Then we head back to non-green screen land to catch up with what’s on the blog, including YA Book Club and Bachelor recaps! Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher, featuring special guest Jen Roy, on 3/19. Then put on your best green outfit for our next Othersode on Irish Wish, the new Lindsay Lohan movie, on 4/2. Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts – we’ll read it on the next episode! Send listener feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com!
TOC
:30 – Icebreaker
10:26 – Movie description and expectations
13:08 – Previous J-Lo feelings
22:48 – What is this?
30:25 – The Great Heart Factory Debate
44:56 – Kelli’s tweet corner; where are the kids?
50:00 – What else? The music?
57:50 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

BSG #90: Thomas Cruise M’pother IV / Rouge Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty – we’re talking about Rouge by Mona Awad! Special guest Mary Kay McBrayer (author and podcast host) joins us for a deep dive into this surreal world to chat about genre, mother-daughter relationships, the toxic beauty industry, and of course, Tom Cruise himself. Next we catch up with what’s on the blog, including a post about Hazbin Hotel and new Bachelor recaps! Buckle up for our next Othersode on Jennifer Lopez’s movie-thing, This is Me…Now on March 5th. Then read along for our next Bookpisode about Thorn Hedge by T. Kingfisher on March 19th! Please leave us a rating and review on Apple podcasts, and we might read it on the pod!
Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/booksquadgoals
TOC
:30 – Welcome Mary Kay! And childhood crushes
9:11 – The very extra Goodreads summary
14:44 – Genre
21:41 – Mother Daughter relationships
52:57 – The ending
1:08:40 – Tom Cruise
1:23:30 – Cover art corner
1:26:35 – Ratings
1:31:16 – Mary Kay’s new podcast, what’s on the blog? What’s up next?
Links: https://www.vogue.com/article/mona-awad-fathers-day-essay
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-greatest-true-crime-s-128412643/

Othersode #89: Is She Getting Hotter? / Mean Girls: The Musical Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

Get in, losers; we’re listening to a podcast the whole way there! Join the Book Squad, aka the Army of Skanks, to discuss the new Mean Girls movie, which IS in fact a musical. We talk about our individual histories with Mean Girls, the music and singing, the performances, and changes that worked and didn’t from the original. Next we catch up with what’s on the blog and Kelli shames listeners (Send feedback! Leave a rating! Write a review! Become a patron!). Read along for our next Bookpisode on Rouge by Mona Awad, featuring special guest Mary Kay McBrayer on 2/20. Then brace yourself for whatever This Is Me…Now is because we’re discussing it on our next Othersode on 3/5.
TOC:
:30– Welcome! And Icebreaker
9:40– Movie intro and spoiler warning
29:54– What was up with the marketing?
40:45– The cast and the music
1:00:40– Changes the new adaptation made
1:14:10– What’s on the blog? What’s up next? Kelli’s shame corner

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