Books and the City

Latest Episodes:

Sloppy Shorties & Bosco Sticks: Back to School Chaos Sep 19, 2022

Show notes

Do you smell that? In the air? It’s back to school time! Kind of! And even though none of us are going back to school, you better believe we’re going to talk about this ~season~ in great detail, and very chaotically. Naturally, we get deep into tangents on school lunch, strange mascots, and the choice paralysis of Tinder? Don’t ask. Also, can someone report Emily’s elementary school district to child protective services? Thank you for listening :) don’t forget to grab your BATC merch here: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on 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.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Ali Hazelwood Sep 12, 2022

Show notes

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

Summer 2022 Recap: Chaos Edition Aug 29, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to another episode of chaos. This time, we're reconvening on Zoom to chat all about our summers (since it's soomehow already the end of August?!?). That discussion also includes summer reading! So keep listening to hear all about what we've been up to. Thank you so much for listening! Grab your BATC merch here (its never too late to shop the summer drop): https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we’ve discussed on 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.

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

PSA: Cat Wine Never Expires Aug 22, 2022

Show notes

You heard it here first, summer’s not over yet so grab your BATC summer merch and join the girls as they spiral into some deep beach/ocean/river talk and all the accompanying aquatic creatures. After that, naturally, we chat about the weirdest things currently in our fridge (Becky starts us off with a doozy). Then, we’ve got a cute romcom, a dark fairytale retelling, and an award-winning literary fiction winner. Thank you so much for listening! You can get your BATC merch all that beautiful 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 and any anything else at https://www.booksandthecitypod.com. Subscribe to our newsletter there, and send us a note at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Becky’s pick: Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean (9:35-16:49)

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250766601/tokyoeverafter

On Becky’s TBR: The Guest Book by Sarah Blake

Emily’s pick: Veronica by Mary Gaitskill (16:50-27:08)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/57515/veronica-by-mary-gaitskill/

On Emily’s TBR: Boy Parts by Eliza Clark

Kayla’s pick: Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan by Liz Michalski (27:09-38:18)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/677442/darling-girl-by-liz-michalski/

On Kayla’s TBR: A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams

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

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Ashley Winstead (Again!) Aug 19, 2022

Show notes

❗ WARNING ❗ this episode is full of spoilers for Ashley Winstead’s latest novel, The Last Housewife! If you’re considering reading this book (which you absolutely should), and you don’t want every single WILD twist and turn to be ruined, then save this interview until you’ve had the chance to read it. If you’re a long-time listener, you already know that Kayla is an Ashley Winstead superfan. She got to once again sit down with this fave author and chat about her latest book, The Last Housewife, which came out earlier this month. This time, the two are chatting about cults and the patriarchy. It’s a great convo about all things internalized misogyny, real-life cult inspiration, and how Ashley escapes from writing these heavy, dark stories. Plus, a sneak peek at what she has coming next, and sooo much more. We hope you love this second interview with a pod-favorite author! Feel free to send us a note about this chat, Ashley’s book(s), or anything else at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------>

The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead: https://read.sourcebooks.com/fiction/9781728229911-the-last-housewife-hc.html

Fool me Once by Ashley Winstead: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/fool-me-once-ashley-winstead?variant=39399749091362

In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead: https://read.sourcebooks.com/fiction/in-my-dreams-i-hold-a-knife.html#:~:text=Told%20in%20racing%20dual%20timelines,be%20able%20to%20put%20down

Find Ashley online! Here she is on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleywinsteadbooks , here she is on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashleywinstead, and here’s her website: https://www.ashleywinstead.com/

PS: ICYMI, here’s the first episode where Kayla talks about In My Dreams I Hold A Knife: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weird-dates-good-books/id1500784660?i=1000530735483

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos

“It was really f***** up and I loved it.” Aug 15, 2022

Show notes

Hello, hope you’re all keeping well during these dog days of summer. We’re back with another new episode (minus one cohost) covering all things dark thrillers, historical fiction, and literary debuts. But before the books, of course the girls get into the three fictional characters who they most relate to! The fish may or may not have asked a similar question before, so if they’re getting forgetful in this heat, we apologize for the deja vu! But thank you so much for listening <3 don’t forget to grab your copy of Kayla’s August fan club book club pick, Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, and join Kayla after Labor Day. Snag 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------------->

Kayla’s pick: The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead (6:54-19:42)

https://read.sourcebooks.com/fiction/9781728229911-the-last-housewife-hc.html

On Kayla’s TBR: Half-Blown Rose by Lessa Clarke-Smith

Becky’s pick: A Hundred Suns by Karin Tanabe (19:43-27:23)

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250261021/ahundredsuns

On Becky’s TBR: Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li

Emily’s pick: Post-Traumatic by Chantal V. Johnson (27:24-35:41)

https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/chantal-v-johnson/post-traumatic/9780316264235/

On Emily’s TBR: I Will Die in a Foreign Land by Kalani Pickhart

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

If that was on Spotify, I'd click it Aug 08, 2022

Show notes

First things first, don't forget to come to Emily's fan club book club meeting tomorrow, 8/9, at 8pmET -- she's discussing the book club pick (by one of her faves) in today's episode, so keep listening for a taste of that! Also in this ep: Kayla announces her August book club book, the gals discuss band names, & Libby is MIA as she recovers from covid instead of infecting her cohosts 😇 Thank you so much for listening! You can get your BATC merch (including the hot new summer 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------------->

Emily’s pick: You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi (9:57-19:07)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/You-Made-a-Fool-of-Death-with-Your-Beauty/Akwaeke-Emezi/9781982188702

On Emily’s TBR: Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

Kayla’s pick: Love, Theodosia by Lori Anne Goldstein (19:08-28:37)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Love-Theodosia/Lori-Anne-Goldstein/9781950994090

On Kayla’s TBR: Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

Becky’s pick: The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Karen White, Lauren Willig (28:38-37:41)

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-glass-ocean-beatriz-williamslauren-willigkaren-white

On Becky’s TBR: The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

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

THROWBACK: The Real Housewives of Books and the City Aug 01, 2022

Show notes

THROWBACK (Originally released on August 8, 2021): 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.

THROWBACK: Halloween in July Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

THROWBACK (Originally released on July 19, 2021): 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.

THROWBACK: The Chain Restaurant Thriller Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

THROWBACK (Originally released on August 3, 2020) This week we're getting real chatty! (Remember you can always skip straight to the book talk if you prefer, time stamps are below.) We discuss how you can get more merch, a wild chain restaurant rabbit hole, a call from a special listener in France, and what our perfect beach read would be. Hint: We may or may not be extremely predictable. Read on for buy links, and check out bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity to shop the books we’ve discussed on this episode and all past episodes! Visit our website at www.booksandthecitypod.com to sign up for our newsletter and learn more about us. And of course, you can always drop us a line at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Kayla just read: Behind the Red Door by Megan Collins (25:57-35:45)
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Behind-the-Red-Door/Megan-Collins/9781982130398
Up next for Kayla: Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Emily just read: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (35:45-49:56) https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-murder-of-roger-ackroyd-agatha-christie
Up next for Emily: Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Becky just read: The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue (49:56-1:00:1) https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/emma-donoghue/the-pull-of-the-stars/9780316499019/
Up next for Becky: A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers / Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing by Allison Winn Scotch

Libby just read: On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden (1:00:1-1:12:48)
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250178138
Up next for Libby: Hot Milk by Deborah Levy

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

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