Book Squad Goals

Latest Episodes:

BSG #124: Home Shopping Network Baby / Hustle, Baby by Priya Guns Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

If you think about it, this podcast is our hustle. (Minus the money.) Join us for a discussion of Hustle, Baby by Priya Guns. We talk about the distinctive voice, quirky characters, the (North) American Dream, and how this is eerily similar to another book we covered recently! We’re headed back into the CoHo-verse on October 13 to talk about the Verity film adaptation, so you don’t want to miss that Othersode. Then read along with us for our October 27 Bookpisode about The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham. We’ll be joined by special guest Wizzy from Sailor Moon Wisdom! P.S. October 13 is also Emily’s birthday, and her number one wish is that you leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Don’t let the birthday girl down!
TOC
:30 – Welcome, and intro
6:47 – Book intro
9:20 – Characters
21:15 – Mary on Mary
25:41 – The (North) American Dream
43:05 – the ending
50:54 – Comparing to Lost Lambs
59:04 – The snake
1:01:00 – Ratings
1:12:07 – What’s up next?

Othersode #123: We Bought A Zoo / Death Becomes Her with Ally Russell Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Do you ever wonder if the squad looks so good because we all took a magic potion? Turns out we’re just that beautiful. But we’d love it if you joined us for a chat about Death Becomes Her, featuring special guest, author Ally Russell! We talk about our personal experiences with the film, body image, the icons Meryl and Goldie, and why this film is still so great. Then we have a spoiler-free interview with Ally about her latest novel, Mystery James Returns from the Grave. Our next Bookpisode will be about Hustle, Baby by Priya Guns (September 29), and our next Othersode will be about the new film adaptation of Verity (October 13).
TOC
:45 – Welcome, Ally!
6:22 – Icebreaker
15:30 – Movie intro
17:37 – Prior experience with this movie?
32:25 – Body image
52:55 – Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn
58:40 – Why is this such an iconic film?
1:08:50 – What genre is this?
1:12:17 – Talking with Ally about Mystery James Returns from the Grave!
1:50:24 – What’s up next?
https://allyrussellbooks.com/

BSG #123: Avril Está Morta / Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Come along, dear flock, and join us for a discussion of Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash. We talk about the Flynn sisters as characters, conspiracy theories, the writing style, and more. Plus we once again try to define what satire actually is. Were we successful? Listen to find out! Author Ally Russell is joining us for our next Othersode about the film Death Becomes Her on September 15th. Then on our next Bookpisode, we’ll be chatting about Hustle, Baby by Priya Guns on September 27th.
TOC:
30 — Hellooooo and icebreaker
9:59—Book intro
11:50—The sisters and characterization
26:50—Satire, conspiracy theories, etc.
43:04—The writing
52:20—The ending
58:00—Does the Flynn family successfully represent America?
1:04:00—Ratings
1:05:52—Wild Feedback
1:20:00—What’s up next??
Links
https://www.vulture.com/article/madeline-cash-lost-lambs-honor-levy-close-reads.html
https://www.booksquadgoals.com/blog/disneys-moana-is-a-response-to-rape-culture

Othersode #122: Boop! / Fallen with Clay McLeod Chapman Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Next time someone casually taps your shoulder, ask yourself: “Am I possessed now?” Even if the answer is yes, you can join us and special returning guest Clay McLeod Chapman for a discussion of the 1998 film Fallen. We talk about how the film mixes genres, the performances by every working actor in the 90s, the demon mechanics, and that twist at the end. Then we have a spoiler-free Q and A with Clay about his new horrormance novel, Devil Inside. Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash. That episode drops on September 1. Then Ally Russell, author of Mystery James Returns from the Grave, joins us for our next Othersode on September 15th!
0:04:36 Icebreaker Question
0:11:02 Fallen Description
0:15:40 What genre is Fallen?
0:24:04 Let's Talk About Azazel/Demon Mechanics
0:31:20 DemonVision©
0:37:31 Rapid Fire Gripes
0:42:17 Clay McLeod Chapman Interview
1:22:12 Next on the Pod!

BSG #122: RELIGIOUS TRAUMA SUMMER IS CANCELED / All Us Saints by Katherine Packert Burke Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

A “literary drama packaged as a two-act play”—or is it? Join the Book Squad for a discussion of All Us Saints by Katherine Packert Burke. We chat about the book’s unique format, the St. Cloud family dynamics, and what’s up with Roland. And we ask the big important question: what even is this about? On our next Othersode, returning guest Clay McLeod Chapman will be with us to talk about the film Fallen and his new novel, Devil Inside, on August 18. On our next Bookpisode on September 1, we’ll cover Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And while you’re at it, leave us a review!
TOC
0:30 – Welcome! And icebreaker
8:45 – Book intro
10:40 – Format and theatrics
14:45 – The St. Cloud Family
23:15 – Roland
50:50 – What even was this about
59:47 – Ratings
1:00:45 – What’s up next?

Othersode #121: Love Island Chicken Horror / The Big Lebowski with Paul Tremblay Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Get out the half and half and pour yourself a White Russian because we’re talking about The Big Lebowski with returning guest, author Paul Tremblay (Horror Movie, The Cabin at the End of the World)! We chat about our own connections to the film, the Coen Brothers’ oeuvre, why the film is a cult classic, and how it holds up in 2026. Then we have a spoiler-free Q and A with Paul about his latest novel, Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep, which is a truly unique and exciting read. Read along for our next Bookpisode about All Us Saints by Katherine Packert Burke on August 4. Then join us for another fun Othersode with Clay McLeod Chapman. We’ll talk about the film Fallen and then we’ll interview him about his new novel, Devil Inside, on August 18. We’d loooooove for our listeners to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Next time you see a video of Jimothy, let that be a reminder to you to write a little review for your gals over at Book Squad Goals.
TOC:
:30– Welcome, Paul!
15:30–Movie Intro
17:00–Previous experience with the Dude
24:30–How familiar are we with Raymond Chandler and do we see the connection with his work
29:20–The Coen Bros
34:00–Why is this a cult classic?
40:45–How does this movie work in 2026?
50:33–Interview with Paul Tremblay!
1:31:17–What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

BSG #121: Religious Trauma Summer / The Body by Bethany C. Morrow Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

Grab your shovels for a conversation about The Body—no, not that The Body. This one is by Bethany C. Morrow and we’re not totally sure why that’s the title! We talk about the protagonist, Religious Trauma, infidelity, that ending, and whether or not this is a horror novel. Next up on the podcast, it’s an Othersode with returning guest Paul Tremblay, author of the new novel Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep! We’ll be talking about the cult classic The Big Lebowski and having a spoiler-free chat about Paul’s book on July 21. For our next Bookpisode, we’d love it if you’d read along and check out All Us Saints by Katherine Packert Burke on August 4! Alsooooo please leave us a rating and review. We love ratings and reviews!
:30 – Hello! Mary’s not here womp womp
9:00 – Book intro
10:35 – How does starting the novel in this way set the tone for the rest of the book?
17:42 – Mavis as a character
25:55 – Religious trauma and marriage
30:05 – What even happened at Mavis’ wedding?
35:50 – A whole rainbow of infidelity
48:39 – “Too good to be true?”
52:12 – The ending
1:02:43 – Is this horror?
1:06:05 – Goodreads rating—why so low?
1:19:34 – Mary’s thoughts on the book
1:21:32 – Ratings
1:29:29 – What’s Up Next? Kelli’s had it with your shit!

Othersode #120: A Secret Third Thing / She's the Man with Samantha Allen Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Put on your best bad wig and join us for our discussion of the Amanda Bynes classic She’s the Man with returning special guest, author Samantha Allen! We talk about the star quality of Amanda, the original text of Twelfth Night, gender stuff, romance, and feminism(?). Then we have a spoiler-free interview with Samantha about her latest novel, Puck, which is inspired by another Shakespearean play! Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on The Body by Bethany C. Morrow on July 7. Then join us another Othersode with author Paul Tremblay on July 21, wherein we’ll discuss The Big Lebowski and Paul’s newest novel, Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep.
:30–Welcome, Samantha!
9:30–Movie intro
11:00–How do we all feel about this movie nostalgically? Amanda Bynes?
19:22–Has anyone read Twelfth Night?
21:28–The Gender of it All
33:10– Is this movie romantic?
38:04–Is this movie funny?
41:55– Is this movie feminist?
51:04–Interview with Samantha Allen about Puck!
1:44:00–What’s up next?

BSG #120: Why Are You White? / Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Are we ghosts? Find out with us as the Book Squad chats about Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker! We ask “What is gothic, anyway?” and discuss the dual timelines, genre mixing, why Lee was a white guy, and who was masterminding this whole thing. We would have then gotten into listener feedback but we DIDN’T HAVE ANY and that’s on you. Do better next time. Speaking of next time, our next Othersode featuring Samantha Allen, author of Puck, will be dropping on June 23. We’ll be talking about the Amanda Bynes classic She’s the Man. Then read along with us for our next Bookpisode about The Body by Bethany C. Morrow on July 7! If you read this entire description, the least you can do is go over to Apple Podcasts and write us a lil review. Thanks bye!
TOC
:30 – Icebreaker – and Mary’s not here womp womp
8:30 – Book intro
10:31 – Let’s talk about genre
16:56 – How did you feel about the scary imagery?
27:15 – Pacing, things that were taken for granted
38:30 – Our troubling Lee
43:45 – Let’s talk about Hina
1:01:23 – The author’s note
1:10:00 – Ratings
1:15:23 – What’s up next??

Othersode #119: The Netflix of It All / Wayward with A LITTLE BIT CULTY's Sarah Edmondson and Nippy Ames May 27, 2026

Show notes

Join the Book Squad—and special guests Sarah Edmondson and Anthony “Nippy” Ames from A Little Bit Culty podcast—to talk about the Netflix series Wayward. We get into the real-life horrors of the troubled teen industry and talk about how this show depicts it. Then we interview Sarah and Nippy about their new book, A Little Bit Culty. The book is out now, so go check it out! Join us on June 9th to talk about Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker in our next Bookpisode. Then go back to the aughts with us to discuss She’s the Man with Samantha Allen, author of the new novel Puck, in our next Othersode on June 23. Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and check out our Patreon to support us on a monthly basis!
TOC:
30– Welcome Sarah and Nippy!
12:50– Show intro
13:17–Background on the show and the troubled teen industry
39:40–Someone you know might have had this experience
50:55–Toni Appreciation
58:00– A Little Bit Culty
1:32:30–What’s up next?

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