Books and the City

Latest Episodes:

We’re Baaack! Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

After a quick break for the holidays, we’re back! Well most of us are (we miss you Emily!!) and today we’re filling you in on all the things we were up to while we were gone and diving into the future of BATC and our reading goals! Thank you for listening! You can buy the new BATC merch here: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Check out our website for more information about the fan club, any anything else at https://www.booksandthecitypod.com. You can also subscribe to our newsletter there, and send us a note at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com-------------> Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions are our own.

Do We All Have Mercury Poisoning? Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

Hello! Happy New Year! Welcome to season 3!!! Thanks for joining us for another season of this bookish podcast that us ~~four~~ three friends love making so much. And even though Emily’s gone and literally moved to France on us, Becky, Kayla, and Libby are excited to be back in “the studio” recording another season for you all. Today, we’re chatting about what meal we would choose to eat if we could only eat one meal (for every meal) for the rest of our lives. This of course spirals into whether or not Becky is eating too much raw tuna (the answer is yes). Then we’re chatting about some great books, so stick around for another fantastically chaotic season <3 You can buy the new BATC merch here: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Check out our website for more information about the fan club, any anything else at https://www.booksandthecitypod.com. You can also subscribe to our newsletter there, and send us a note at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Libby’s pick: All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews (11:40-24:40)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691034/all-this-could-be-different-by-sarah-thankam-mathews/
On Libby’s TBR: Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper

Becky’s pick: The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester (24:41-35:03)
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/natasha-lester/the-three-lives-of-alix-st-pierre/9781538706947/
On Becky’s TBR: Queen of Thieves by Beezy Marsh

Kayla’s pick: All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham (35:04-45:02)
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250803856/allthedangerousthings
On Kayla’s TBR: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

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

THROWBACK: Emily's Interview with Ali Hazelwood Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

THROWBACK! Originally released September 12, 2022. We'll be back with new episodes in February 2023!

If you’ve been listening to Books and the City for awhile you know Ali Hazelwood’s first book, The Love Hypothesis, was one of the books that all four of us on the podcast absolutely loved! So naturally we were so excited that Emily got to sit down and chat with Ali herself! Who more fitting to discuss a STEM romance novel than our very own Dr. Emily?? The two chat about Ali’s new book, Love on the Brain as well as all things science, fanfic, and even Star Trek. We hope you love their chat as much as we did. Feel free to send us a note about this chat, Ali’s book(s), or anything else at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------>

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673765/love-on-the-brain-by-ali-hazelwood/

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673764/the-love-hypothesis-by-ali-hazelwood/

Find Ali online! Here she is on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alihazelwood/ and here’s her website: https://alihazelwood.com/

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos

THROWBACK: Scary Microphones Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

THROWBACK! Originally released October 31, 2022. We'll be back with new episodes in February 2023!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Today, we’re talking haunted house mishaps and embarrassing spooky season stories in general. This episode features one of the funniest miscommunications we’ve had on the pod in a while, and that’s saying something. Then, appropriately, we’re talking about some spooky reads including a couple of witch stories (with varying degrees of horror/coziness), and a true-crime-podcast-esque mystery. And don’t forget to grab your copy of All This Could Be Different for Libby’s November book club! Stay tuned for dates. <3 thanks so much for listening! You can get your BATC merch here: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Check out our website for more information about the fan club, any anything else at https://www.booksandthecitypod.com. You can also subscribe to our newsletter there, and send us a note at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Becky’s pick: Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen (15:55-25:18)

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250019868/otherbirds

On Becky’s TBR: Small Town Big Magic by Hazel Beck

Emily’s pick: Cackle by Rachel Harrison (25:19-34:47)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/667246/cackle-by-rachel-harrison/

On Emily’s TBR: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Libby’s pick: Sadie by Courtney Summers (34:48-49:36)

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250267139/sadie

On Libby’s TBR: The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

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

THROWBACK: Emily Almost Joined the Circus Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

THROWBACK! Originally released March 14, 2022. We'll be back with new episodes in February 2023!

Get ready for some nostalgic talk about our favorite TV shows growing up! Also, Emily is sharing a date and time for her fan club book club discussion, Love In the Big City by Sang Young Park, so grab your copies soon. And stick around for the book talk, this week featuring your classic lineup of literary fiction, historical fiction, young adult romance, and a gut-punch of a contemporary novel from a character on death row. Thank you for listening!!! Grab your BATC merch here: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and send us an email at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Libby’s pick: The Idiot by Elif Batuman (12:16-23:38)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/314108/the-idiot-by-elif-batuman/

On Libby’s TBR: Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho

Becky’s pick: The Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers (23:39-34:46)

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-tobacco-wives-adele-myers?variant=39369364439074

On Becky’s TBR: The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Emily’s pick: Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi (34:47-46:46)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Permanent-Record/Mary-H-K-Choi/9781534445987

On Emily’s TBR: Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi

Kayla’s pick: Notes On an Execution by Danya Kukafka (46:47-55:18)

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/notes-on-an-execution-danya-kukafka?variant=39314561237026

On Kayla’s TBR: The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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

THROWBACK: Amigas, Cheetahs, Friends for Life Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

THROWBACK! Originally released June 14, 2021. We'll be back with new episodes in February 2023!

We’re (still) reflecting on our upstate retreat, and today we’re sharing what we learned about each other after spending our first full weekend together. The answers may surprise you a little bit! And before we get into some quality book talk, we have some exciting announcements about the fan club book club, BATC merch, and a possible end-of-summer Tri-State meet up 👀 keep your eyes and ears peeled for more on that. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! You can join our fan club here: https://www.patreon.com/booksandthecitypod. 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------------->

Libby just read: Eat A Peach by David Chang (15:22-29:59)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/552829/eat-a-peach-by-david-chang-with-gabe-ulla/
Up next for Libby: Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown

Kayla just read: Long Bright River by Liz Moore (30:00-41:08)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/600396/long-bright-river-by-liz-moore/
Up next for Kayla: Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

Emily just read: The Prestige by Christopher Priest (41:09-53:30)
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780312858865
Up next for Emily: The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee

Becky just read: Is This Anything? By Jerry Seinfeld (53:31-1:02:51)
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Is-This-Anything/Jerry-Seinfeld/9781982112691
Up next for Becky: Shadowplay by Joseph O’Connor

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

THROWBACK: Alien Orgies?! Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

THROWBACK! Originally released May 31, 2021. We'll be back with new episodes in February 2023!
We’re coming to you (not) live with some more BATC Upstate Retreat Content! We recorded this episode from the Airbnb of our dreams in Kingston - can we go back yet? So tune in for that then stay tuned to hear Libby announce the June fan club book club pick! It’s a good one and we cannot wait. After all that, stick around for some very lovely (and really varied) book discussions! Thank you for listening! We love you! You can join our fan club (and book club!) here: https://www.patreon.com/booksandthecitypod. 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: Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland (15:30-26:43)
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Florence-Adler-Swims-Forever/Rachel-Beanland/9781982132460
Up next for Becky: Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous by Suzanne Park

Libby just read: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (26:44-36:45)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/253400/dark-matter-by-blake-crouch/
Up next for Libby: Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

Kayla just read: Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert (36:46-46:30)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/act-your-age-eve-brown-talia-hibbert?variant=32126621941794
Up next for Kayla: The Sober Girl Society Handbook: An Empowering Guide to Living Hangover Free by Millie Gooch

Emily just read: Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (46:32-1:00:10)
https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/saga-vol-1-tp
Up next for Emily: The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

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

Long Live the Emily Era Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

Join us for Emily's last episode on the pod 🥺 of course, it's not "goodbye," it's "see you later." But Emily's on to bigger things across the pond in France (Emily in Paris spinoff, anyone??) and we'll miss her so much. Tune in for some podcast/Emily era reflections, and fair warning: tears are shed. Also on this ep: our 2022 year-end recaps, including our favorite books of the year and looking forward to some 2023 goals. Don’t forget to grab your copy of The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb for Emily’s (last😭) fan club book club pick, on January 3. Thanks for listening! Grab your BATC merch (perfect stocking stuffers!) here: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Check out our website for more information about the fan club, any anything else at https://www.booksandthecitypod.com. You can also subscribe to our newsletter there, and send us a note at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

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

Secret Santa III: More Secret, More Santa Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

It’s time for the most fun episode of the year: SECRET SANTA! In typical fashion, Kayla’s coming in hot with evidence, Libby has thoughts, Emily has suspicions, and Becky has no idea. We’ve got some great books and some great mysteries lined up for you, so enjoy the holiday chaos :) and don’t forget to read The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb for Emily’s final fan club book club pick, coming up on January 3 in the new year. Thanks for listening! Grab your BATC merch (perfect stocking stuffers!) here: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Check out our website for more information about the fan club, any anything else at https://www.booksandthecitypod.com. You can also subscribe to our newsletter there, and send us a note at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Emily’s pick: All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami (17:50-26:49)

https://www.europaeditions.com/book/9781609456993/all-the-lovers-in-the-night

On Emily’s TBR: Breast and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

Libby’s pick: Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun (27:50-42:43)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Kiss-Her-Once-for-Me/Alison-Cochrun/9781982191139

On Libby’s TBR: Milkman by Anna Burns

Becky’s pick: The Cloisters by Katy Hays (42:53-51:37)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Cloisters/Katy-Hays/9781668004401

On Becky’s TBR: The Circus Train by Amita Parikh

Kayla’s pick: Anxious People by Frederik Backman (51:38-58:56)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Anxious-People/Fredrik-Backman/9781501160844

On Kayla’s TBR: The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

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

Spotify Wrapped Szn Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

Hey! Don’t forget to stop by Ink48 Hotel in Hell’s Kitchen this holiday season to donate your gently used books, so that Book Fairies can help redistribute them to underserved communities in NYC & Long Island. Also, join Emily in the New Year to discuss her (last!!!) book club pick, The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb. After these announcements, we’re chatting (for too long) about our Spotify Wrapped, including plenty of conspiracy theories. And after all that: the books :) today, it’s a buzzy pop culture novel, a play, historical fiction, and a weird but great kind of fantasy situation. Thank youuu for listening! You can get your BATC merch (perfect stocking stuffers!) here: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Check out our website for more information about the fan club, any anything else at https://www.booksandthecitypod.com. You can also subscribe to our newsletter there, and send us a note at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Kayla’s pick: Anon Pls. by Deuxmoi (20:52-33:00)

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/anon-pls-deuxmoi?variant=40169936257058

On Kayla’s TBR: Angels of the Pacific by Elise Hopper

Emily’s pick: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee (33:01-42:28)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/295009/whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf-by-edward-albee/

On Emily’s TBR: Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin

Becky’s pick: The Wilder Women by Ruth Emmie Lang (42:38-50:21)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/609878/skin-of-the-sea-by-natasha-bowen/

On Becky’s TBR: The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester

Libby’s pick: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (50:22-1:04:28)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/612385/hamnet-by-maggie-ofarrell/

On Libby’s TBR: The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride