Books and the City

Latest Episodes:

Frosty Chicken Nuggets, Hold the Ketchup Aug 30, 2021

Show notes

We have tons of announcements before we get into the book talk today, so buckle up. Stay tuned to hear all about: our new merch, our highly anticipated IRL meetup (in September), a Patreon fan club overhaul, Becky’s September fan club book club announcement, an Istoria Press plug (www.istoriapress.com), and so much more! Phew, after all of that fun stuff, the fish are dying to know about our favorite weird flavor combos before we dive into some book talk. This week, we have historical fiction, a thriller, essays, and a memoir. It’s all about balance, babyyy. THANK YOU for listening! Grab your BATC merch and own your main character moment here: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and send us an email at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Becky just read: The Showgirl by Nicola Harrison (13:02-19:29)
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250200150
On Becky’s TBR: Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper

Kayla just read: The Family Plot by Megan Collins (19:30-28:07)
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Family-Plot/Megan-Collins/9781982163846
On Kayla’s TBR: Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams

Libby just read: The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green (28:08-39:59)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/search/the-anthropocene-reviewed?q=the%20anthropocene%20reviewed
On Libby’s TBR: The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Delila Harris

Emily just read: Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton (40:00-53:41)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/everything-i-know-about-love-dolly-alderton?variant=32128345571362
On Emily’s TBR: The Regrets by Amy Bonnaffons

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions are our own.

Weekly Highlights! Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

We’re kicking things off by sharing some things that have been making us happy lately! Speaking of things that make us happy: our incredible illustrator, Nicole’s, new merch line! Check out her stuff at www.istoriapress.com, and give her a follow on Insta @IstoriaPress. Another thing that makes us happy: fan club book club! Tune in for a little update on that, from Kayla. Then, of course, books: we have an old classic, an edge-of-your-seat thriller, a witchy series, and a coming-of-age mystery. Grab your BATC merch (and stay tuned for a summer addition): https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and send us an email at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->
Libby just read: The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder (6:37-16:42)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-bridge-of-san-luis-rey-thornton-wilder?variant=32207641673762
On Libby’s TBR: The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus
Becky just read: Falling by TJ Newman (16:43-28:39)
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Falling/T-J-Newman/9781982177881
*We pre-recorded this episode, but given the news coming out of Afghanistan last week, it feels especially timely. Here are a few places you can consider donating to help refugees:
https://help.rescue.org/donate/afghanistan
https://malala.org/donate/afghanistan?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpf2lBhDkARIsAGVo0D1MyJIn9H2IiaIvRD0LzfBiEfXZUvoq5QVQD1RYerDQTycgehG6trkaAjYoEALw_wcB
https://womenforafghanwomen.org/afghanistan/
On Becky’s TBR: At Summer’s End by Courtney Ellis
Emily just read: Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova (28:40-36:59)
https://books.sourcebooks.com/labyrinth-lost/
On Emily’s TBR: The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
Kayla just read: Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey (37:00-45:28)
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Where-the-Truth-Lies/Anna-Bailey/9781982157166
On Kayla’s TBR: Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams
Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Dorinda Medley Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

If you’re a regular listener of BATC or a follower of @kayreadwhat then you know Kayla is a Bravo superfan and she’s turned Becky into one too. So when they got the opportunity to sit down and chat with the one and only Dorinda Medley, they fangirled like crazy! Dorinda was just like she is on RHONY. Full of Dorindaisms and good advice and plenty of laughs! We know you’ll enjoy this chat as much as we did. Be sure to check out the links below for Dorinda’s book and more! Feel free to send us a note about the interview, Real Housewives, or anything else at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------>

Make It Nice by Dorinda Medley: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Make-It-Nice/Dorinda-Medley/9781982168322

Attend a virtual party live with Dorinda at Bluestone Manor via AirBnb: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/2818687

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos

We Love Annie Hathaway Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

Today we’re discussing our favorite celebrity fun facts including a conspiracy theory involving William Shakespeare. Then we’re diving into book chat with 4 totally different types of books. We’ve got literary fiction, graphic memoir, historical fiction, and fantasy! And of course, there is plenty of our usual BATC chaos. Grab your BATC merch: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and send us an email at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Kayla just read: Next Year in Havana (10:30 - 18:10)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/553896/next-year-in-havana-by-chanel-cleeton/

On Kayla’s TBR: Life by Keith Richards

Becky just read: Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal (18:10 - 29:33)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/318308/kitchens-of-the-great-midwest-by-j-ryan-stradal/

On Becky’s TBR: You Had Me at Pét-Nat by Rachel Signer

Emily just read: Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko (29:33 - 40:03)

https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/raybearer_9781419739828/

On Emily’s TBR: Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

Libby just read: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (40:03 - 49:05)

https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/fun-home/9780618871711

On Libby’s TBR: Crying in H Mart

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Samantha Downing Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

Today, Kayla is chatting with one of her favorite thriller authors, Samantha Downing. Samantha is the author of My Lovely Wife, He Started It, and you can get her new book, For Your Own Good out now! Kayla and Samantha chat all about her writing process, her favorite characters to write and some spoilers too!

***SPOILER ALERT: Skip 13:57 - 17:07 to avoid being spoiled!***

You can find the links we discussed in this episode below, and feel free to drop us a line at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. Thank you so much for listening!------------------------>

Samantha’s website: https://www.samanthadowning.com/

For Your Own Good: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622597/for-your-own-good-by-samantha-downing/9780593100974/

Samantha’s favorite recent read: You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/623783/you-love-me-by-caroline-kepnes/

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

The Real Housewives of Books and the City Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

We’re starting off this episode very chaotically with a workshop session where we determine our Real Housewives taglines, a very fun merch announcement (or two!) before we jump into some book talk. Today we’re discussing a very timely gymnastics story, Portlandia and the very amazing Carrie Brownstein, a very funny short story collection, and the new TJR! Grab your BATC merch: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and send us an email at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Becky just read: The Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon (12:34-30:31)

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-happiest-girl-in-the-world-alena-dillon?variant=32231870332962

On Becky’s TBR: Make it Nice by Dorinda Medley

Libby just read: Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein (30:31-45:40)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/312793/hunger-makes-me-a-modern-girl-by-carrie-brownstein/

On Libby’s TBR: Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier

Kayla just read: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (45:40-55:10)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/577243/malibu-rising-by-taylor-jenkins-reid/

On Kayla’s TBR: The Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon

Emily just read: Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby (55:10-1:07:05)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/576724/wow-no-thank-you-by-samantha-irby/

On Emily’s TBR: Meaty by Samantha Irby

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

Weird Dates & Good Books Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

First thing's first, we're excited to announce the Malibu Rising fan club book club meeting is happening August 29th. See you there, can't wait to chat about this summery book with all our fan club members!! And then, before a bunch of great book talk, we're sharing our best weird date stories 🥰 our conclusion is that we need to go on more weird dates. Thank you so much for listening! Join our fan club at: https://www.patreon.com/booksandthecitypod. Grab your BATC merch (and stay tuned for a summer addition): https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and send us an email at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->
Emily just read: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (10:23-21:15)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-song-of-achilles-madeline-miller?variant=32205681262626
Up next for Emily: The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
Kayla just read: In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead (21:16-27:47)
https://bookshop.org/books/in-my-dreams-i-hold-a-knife/9781728229881
Up next for Kayla: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Becky just read: Patience & Not-Forsaken by Alix E. Harrow (27:48-32:29)
https://www.audible.com/pd/Patience-and-Not-Forsaken-Audiobook/B01N9OBIZE
Up next for Becky: The Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Strahdal
Libby just read: Broken Horses by Brandi Carlile (32:30-42:40)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/646571/broken-horses-by-brandi-carlile/
Up next for Libby: Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein
Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

Hunky Dory's In Our Fishbowl Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

In today's episode, Kayla is announcing her August book club pick! Hint: it's a buzzy, summery read by an author we've talked about on the pod before. Then, naturally, we're discussing past lives before we talk (more) books, including: a couple of mystery, murdery YA novels, historical fiction, and poetry! This might be our first poetry collection on an episode, so yay for firsts. Thank you so much for listening! Join our fan club at: https://www.patreon.com/booksandthecitypod. Grab your BATC merch (and stay tuned for a summer addition): https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and send us an email at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Kayla just read: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (11:45-17:55)

https://www.lbyr.com/titles/jennifer-lynn-barnes/the-inheritance-games/9781368052405/

Up next for Kayla: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Libby just read: The Mary Shelley Club by Marcy Oldavsky (17:56-25:13)

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250230102

Up next for Libby: Everybody (Else) Is Perfect by Gabrielle Korn

Becky just read: Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells (25:14-34:28)

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/sisters-of-the-resistance-christine-wells?variant=32893857529890

Up next for Becky: Something by Ernest Hemingway!

Emily just read: When My Brother Was an Aztec by Natalie Diaz (34:29-41:32)

https://www.coppercanyonpress.org/books/when-my-brother-was-an-aztec-by-natalie-diaz/

Up next for Emily: Inventing Latinos: A New Story of American Racism by Laura E. Gomez

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

Halloween in July Jul 19, 2021

Show notes

On this week's episode, we're talking ~dreams~ (after we discuss Emily's inappropriate summer attire). Come hear all about our dreams, recurring and otherwise, before we get into the book talk. Speaking of books, we're discussing a thriller, folklore, a heavy romcom, and a Gatsby retelling, Thank you for listening!! Join our fan club at: https://www.patreon.com/booksandthecitypod. Grab your BATC merch (and stay tuned for a summer addition): https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and send us an email at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->
Libby just read: Honey Girl by Morgan Jerkins (14:48-25:49)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/honey-girl-morgan-rogers?variant=39308755796002
Up next for Libby: Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
Becky just read: The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (25:50-36:43)
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250784780
Up next for Becky: The Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon
Emily just read: The Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (36:44-46:34)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/577066/gods-of-jade-and-shadow-by-silvia-moreno-garcia/
Up next for Emily: Certain Dark Things Raybearer by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Kayla just read: The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine (46:35-52:56)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-stranger-in-the-mirror-liv-constantine?variant=32257225031714
Up next for Kayla: The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Riley Sager Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

On today’s very special episode, Kayla and Becky get to speak with one of the most prolific thriller authors out there: the one and only New York Times bestselling Riley Sager! Riley joins the pod to discuss his latest thriller, Survive the Night, including his inspiration for this unique standalone. He's also chatting with the hosts about writing, top 5 must-see movies, and most importantly, his favorite Taylor Swift song. **BE WARNED, MAJOR spoilers discussed 13:20-16:04** We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did! Send us a note about the interview, Riley’s books, or anything else at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------>

Survive the Night by Riley Sager: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/646656/survive-the-night-by-riley-sager/

Riley just read (& loved): Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/577243/malibu-rising-by-taylor-jenkins-reid/

Riley is currently reading: Elizabeth and Monty by Charles Casillo https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9781496724793/elizabeth-and-monty/

Up next for Riley: Falling by T.J. Newman https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Falling/T-J-Newman/9781982177881

Find Riley online!: https://www.rileysagerbooks.com/

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos