Books and the City

Latest Episodes:

THROWBACK: "I guess it's one of my favorite books?" Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

THROWBACK!! (Originially posted Oct 25, 2021) Get ready for another backlist episode! Before we get into the books we read quite some time ago, we're talking magic potions and what our ideal ones would do. After that, it's a fun episode where each host discusses a surprise backlist title, pulled from their Goodreads or booksta from years ago, by ANOTHER host, without doing much of a refresher. Enjoy! PS: if you're a fan club member, hope to see you at Rooney book club this Wednesday. Keep your 👀 peeled on the Patreon for that Zoom link. Thanks for being here! 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 way backlist read: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (10:20-22:09)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/239717/a-little-life-by-hanya-yanagihara/
On Libby’s TBR: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Becky’s way backlist read: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (22:10-30:38)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/201138/the-paris-wife-by-paula-mclain/
On Becky’s TBR: Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor
Emily’s way backlist read: My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh (30:39-38:29)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/561517/my-year-of-rest-and-relaxation-by-ottessa-moshfegh/
On Emily’s TBR: McGlue by Ottessa Moshfegh
Kayla’s way backlist read: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (38:30-45:30)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/555799/the-hearts-invisible-furies-by-john-boyne/
On Kayla’s TBR: The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki
Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions are our own.

"Do I have a belly button? No one knows." Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

Hello, happy almost July aka BATC Summer break! Don't forget, we're taking July off, but we'll be releasing some old favorites, so come hang with the past versions of us. And fan club activities will continue as usual, so we hope to see you at book club and happy hour - both later this week! Join us for a chaotic last episode of June, in which someone catches a bug midair and we singlehandedly revive that "starter pack" meme trend. We're talking all things summer plans in this episode!! ☀️🛟👙🌊🩴 Thank you so much for listening :') you can grab your BATC merch here (including the new 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, art by @niczollos, all opinions are our own.

Did you say… Dangling Chad? Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

Hey friends! Welcome to another ep, before we get into the book discussion, a couple quick reminders: our summer merch! It’s available now! Also, reminder we’re taking a little summer break in July, but we’ll release some great throwbacks. And finally, don’t miss Libby’s fan club book club meeting on June 30 for Love After Love. Then, the books! Today we’re talking cannibalism, the mafia vs. the mob, motherhood when your child is scary, and whiplash on one of the biggest thriller authors writing today. 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: The Family by Naomi Krupitsky (15:47-26:20)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/607001/the-family-by-naomi-krupitsky/

On Becky’s TBR: The Lost Summers of Newport by Beatriz Williams, Karen White, Lauren Willig

Kayla’s pick: The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager (26:21-36:47)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/646707/the-house-across-the-lake-by-riley-sager/

On Kayla’s TBR: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Emily’s pick: A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers (36:28-45:13)

https://www.unnamedpress.com/books/book?title=A+Certain+Hunger+

On Emily’s TBR: Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

Libby’s pick: With Teeth by Kristen Arnett (45:14-52:48)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/646150/with-teeth-by-kristen-arnett/

On Libby’s TBR: My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

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

THROWBACK: Three Cheers For Pride! Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

THROWBACK FROM JUNE 2021: We are back on Zoom for the first time in a while, talking about pride books for the month of June! Before diving into some of the titles that helped us celebrate queer joy this month, we’re chatting about our ~child star~ moments. Can you believe all four of us have been on TV?! And then, of course, some fantastic gay books. And here’s your friendly reminder to read diversely all year round - not just during Pride month (or Black History month, AAPI Heritage month... you get it). Don’t forget to head over to our Instagram story poll to vote on this year’s summer merch 😍 Thank you for listening! 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------------->

Emily just read: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (13:16-22:18) https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Aristotle-and-Dante-Discover-the-Secrets-of-the-Universe/Benjamin-Alire-Saenz/Aristotle-and-Dante/9781442408937 Up next for Emily: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Libby just read: One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (22:19-34:40) https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250244499 Up next for Libby: Inferno by Eileen Myles

Becky just read: When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri (34:41-44:54) https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/550394/when-katie-met-cassidy-by-camille-perri/ Up next for Becky: Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour

Kayla just read: Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur (44:55-55:53) https://www.harpercollins.com/products/written-in-the-stars-alexandria-bellefleur?variant=32117470855202 Up next for Kayla: One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

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

Give Us a Bop Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

Hello friends, welcome to another episode! Tune in to hear: Libby’s next fan club book club pick, lots of awkward announcements (including SUMMER MERCH!!!), our “song of the summer,” (we really have summer on the brain), and some book conversation about short stories, literary fiction, historical fiction, and political fiction. Thank you 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------------->

Libby’s pick: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (9:54-16:22)

https://wvupressonline.com/secretlives

On Libby’s TBR: Love After Love by Ingrid Persaud

Kayla’s pick: Meant to Be by Emily Giffin (16:23-24:30)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/551234/meant-to-be-by-emily-giffin/

On Kayla’s TBR: Darling Girl by Liz Michalski

Emily’s pick: Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson (24:31-28:50)

https://groveatlantic.com/book/open-water/

On Emily’s TBR: People From My Neighbourhood by Hiromi Kawakami

Becky’s pick: Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing by Allison Winn Scotch (28:51-34:45)

https://www.amazon.com/Cleo-McDougal-Regrets-Nothing-Novel/dp/1542021227

On Becky’s TBR: Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

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

“I’ve Never Had a Routine in My Life” May 30, 2022

Show notes

First of all: don't forget to join Becky's fan club book club discussion this Wednesday, 6/1! Then: whoooo's ready to talk morning routines? Well, you're in luck because we're going through our daily morning routines (in extreme detail). Listen in to find out which of us needs 6 alarms, who uses the high tech sleep apps, which of us has their week of outfits planned, who completes the Taylor Swift Heardle every morning, who's a catatonic zombie before 9am, AND who feels like a Downton Abbey maid while she's making her bed. And the fun doesn't stop there, because then we're getting into our nighttime routines :) we hope you enjoy this randomly in depth look at the nitty gritty of our daily lives! Thank you so much for listening! 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. Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions are our own.

"Bamboozled... In a good way?" May 23, 2022

Show notes

Today we’re talking tattoos! If we have any, how many we have, what they ~mean~, if we think we’ll ever get any, and of course some matching BATC tattoo possibilities… cough cough. Then we’re getting into some great books, so buckle up for translated lit fic, a buzzy book from years ago, fascinating historical fiction, and a Parisian thriller. Thanks as always 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: The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki (21:14-28:30)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/669275/the-magnificent-lives-of-marjorie-post-by-allison-pataki/
On Becky’s TBR: Breaking Time by Sasha Alsberg
Kayla’s pick: The Caretakers by Amanda Bestor-Seigel (28:31-42:11)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-caretakers-amanda-bestor-siegal?variant=39422274502690
On Kayla’s TBR: The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
Emily’s pick: Trust by Domenico Starnone (42:12-50:10)
https://www.europaeditions.com/book/9781609457037/trust
On Emily’s TBR: Disorientation by Elaine Hsich Chou
Libby’s pick: The Nix by Nathan Hill (50:11-1:00:13)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/530893/the-nix-by-nathan-hill/
On Libby’s TBR: The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions are our own.

“You Are a Cartoon Character” May 16, 2022

Show notes

Tune in to hear more about the plans for our NYC bookstore crawl, and don’t forget to join Becky’s fan club book club discussion coming up in early June! After those announcements, we’re getting into our “cartoon outfits.” Keep listening if you’re not sure what that means :) then we have a few classics, a beloved historical fiction, and a “f***ing wild” YA thriller. Thanks 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------------->

Emily’s pick: A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid (10:15-20:17)

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374527075/asmallplace

On Emily’s TBR: Nothing Personal by James Baldwin

Kayla’s pick: This Golden State by Marit Weisenberg (20:18-27:45)

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250786272/this-golden-state

On Kayla’s TBR: Booth by Karen Joy Fowler

Libby’s pick: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (27:46-37:48)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/117662/the-bluest-eye-by-toni-morrison/

On Libby’s TBR: My Brother by Jamaica Kincaid

Becky’s pick: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (37:49-47:03)

https://www.thedialpress.com/books/the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society-movie-tie-in-edition-tr

On Becky’s TBR: Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman

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

We Are Afraid of Smelling Bad May 09, 2022

Show notes

The four of us are back, babyyyy. First and foremost: CONGRATS TO DR. LAZY LIBRARY EMILY!!! Second of all, please check out our amazing illustrator's precious cat's GoFundMe to help cure her FIP 💔 find more info in her Insta bio @niczollos / https://instagram.com/niczollos?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=. For today's ep, we're chatting about signature scents! With a nice long detour into Abercrombie and Hollister nostalgia, of course. Keep listening to hear what all our signature scents are before we get into the book talk. 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------------->
Becky’s pick: The Cartographers by Peng Shepard (18:55-28:08)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-cartographers-peng-shepherd
On Becky’s TBR: A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin
Libby’s pick: I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston (28:09-39:50)
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250244468/ikissedsharawheeler
On Libby’s TBR: A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Kayla’s pick: Book Lovers by Emily Henry (39:51-52:05)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/670293/book-lovers-by-emily-henry/
On Kayla’s TBR: Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
Emily’s pick: Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon (52:10-1:02:08)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/551521/instructions-for-dancing-by-nicola-yoon/
On Emily’s TBR: Monarch by Candice Wuehle
Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions are our own.

THROWBACK: Weird Dates & Good Books May 02, 2022

Show notes

THROWBACK!!! 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.

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