Books and the City

Latest Episodes:

Marathons & Roller Coasters Oct 18, 2021

Show notes

Hi! Happy Monday! Before we get into the books today, we’re doing a fun little recap of our recent pod trip to Chicago for the 2021 Chicago Marathon. Woo, running! Then, we’ve got some literary fiction about motherhood and millenial connection, plus a witchy rom com and a short but sweet Sleeping Beauty retelling. Don’t forget about book club, if you’re in our fan club! We’re meeting to discuss Beautiful World, Where Are You? via Zoom on Wednesday, October 27 :) thank you, as always, for giving our podcast a listen. 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 just read: Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder (8:28-16:45)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/665285/nightbitch-by-rachel-yoder/

On Emily’s TBR: Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Kayla just read: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling (16:46-25:43)

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-ex-hex-erin-sterling?variant=33051655143458

On Kayla’s TBR: Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin

Becky just read: A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow (25:44-33:48)

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250765352/a-spindle-splintered

On Becky’s TBR: The Last Confessions of Sylvia P. by Daniel Kravitz

Libby just read: Beautiful World, Where Are You? by Sally Rooney (33:49-46:59)

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374602604/beautiful-world-where-are-you

On Libby’s TBR: The 2000s Made Me Gay by Grace Perry

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

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lisa Jewell Oct 14, 2021

Show notes

Today, Kayla had the exciting opportunity to speak to one of her all-time favorite authors, Lisa Jewell, for a very fun author interview about her latest book, The Night She Disappeared (which Kayla covered in a recent episode, linked below). Keep listening for a great conversation about Lisa Jewell’s writing process, her missing character tropes, whether we’ll ever get a universe from this popular author, and Lisa’s journey from romantic comedies into the thriller genre that she primarily writes in now. Plus! Some exclusive info about the anticipated The Family Upstairs sequel, The Family Remains, which comes out next summer. **WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM 17:55-25:26** -- if you haven’t read this yet and you don’t want to spoil the ending for yourself, skip ahead! We hope you enjoy this convo as much as we did! Feel free to send us a note about this interview, Lisa’s book, your favorite thrillers, rom-coms, or anything in between at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------>

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Night-She-Disappeared/Lisa-Jewell/9781982137366

Lisa is excited to read Exit by Belinda Bauer: https://groveatlantic.com/book/exit/

Find Lisa online! Here she is on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisajewelluk/ and here she is on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisajewelluk

PS: ICYMI, here’s the episode where Kayla talks about The Night She Disappeared: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birthdays-on-the-brain/id1500784660?i=1000535999162

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos

Flying Broomsticks: Are They Real? Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

Today, we’re chatting about flying broomsticks. Sound off in the comments, are flying broomsticks a real thing? No one can say for sure. But actually, now that it’s October, tune in to hear where we’d all fly if we were the witches of our dreams (aka: if we had a flying broomstick). Then we’re getting into the books, including an academic thriller, witchy horror, mind-bending sci-fi, and very messy, very queer literary fiction. Also, shoutout to Libby for running a marathon yesterday :) go, girl. THANKS FOR LISTENING, WE LOVE YOU! 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 just read: Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters (10:04-22:04)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/621886/detransition-baby-by-torrey-peters/

On Libby’s TBR: One To Watch by Kate Stayman-London

Becky just read: House of Hollow by Crystal Sutherland (22:05-31:25)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624629/house-of-hollow-by-krystal-sutherland/

On Becky’s TBR: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

Emily just read: This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (31:26-39:50)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/This-Is-How-You-Lose-the-Time-War/Amal-El-Mohtar/9781534430990

On Emily’s TBR: Jade City by Fonda Lee

Kayla just read: The Ivies by Alexa Donne (39:51-49:41)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/647405/the-ivies-by-alexa-donne/

On Kayla’s TBR: When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton

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

Titanic? Not Feeling This Ship Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

Hey friends! Join us, because we’ve been recording in person all day, and we’re starting to feel a little loopy. Before we get into the books, don’t forget to pick up your copy of Beautiful World, Where Are You? by Sally Rooney, because that’s the October fan club book club pick! Libby is hosting this month, on October 27, so we hope to see you there. After that announcement, we’re discussing our favorite podcasts of the moment (other than our own, of course). Then the books! Today, it’s all about witches, the Astors, campy exorcisms, and a YA novel in verse. Thank you for listening, we hope you’ve enjoyed!! 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 https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and send us an email at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Becky just read: Payback’s A Witch by Lana Harper (8:40-18:04)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672445/paybacks-a-witch-by-lana-harper/

On Becky’s TBR: The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke

Kayla just read: The Second Mrs Astor by Shana Abe (18:05-30:47)

https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9781496732040/the-second-mrs-astor/

On Kayla’s TBR: Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Libby just read: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (30:48-36:59)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Long-Way-Down/Jason-Reynolds/9781534444959

On Libby’s TBR: Abandon Me by Melissa Febos

Emily just read: My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix (37:00-46:42)

https://www.quirkbooks.com/book/mybestfriendsexorcism#newsletter

On Emily’s TBR: Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

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

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Stephanie Garber Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

If you’ve been a fan of the pod for a while now, you may remember Emily’s treacherous journey out into NYC in the early days of the pandemic, mere hours before the city shut down. She was on the hunt for the rest of a fantasy series that she could not get enough of, and the book that set her down this path was Caraval by Stephanie Garber. Today, Becky and Kayla got to speak to the author about her latest book, Once Upon A Broken Heart, which is a Caraval spinoff! Suffice it to say, we’re very excited. Keep listening to hear about Stephanie’s world-building process, themes of sisterhood in Stephanie’s books, some musical inspo, the tumultuous journey of how Stephanie came to write the book of her heart, and the “correct” way to pronounce Caraval ;) We hope you loved listening to our chat with Stephanie! Feel free to send us a note about this interview, Megan’s book, your favorite true crime, or anything else at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------>

Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250268396/once-upon-a-broken-heart

Caraval by Stephanie Garber: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250095268/caraval

Stephanie is so excited to read: Only A Monster by Vanessa Len https://www.harpercollins.com/products/only-a-monster-vanessa-len?variant=39356511879202

Stephanie just read and loved: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250780867 and Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250266118/rockpaperscissors

Find Stephanie online! Here’s her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie_garber/ or her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieGarber.Author

PS: here’s the episode where Emily covers Caraval: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-and-the-city/id1500784660?i=1000474221826

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos

No Spoils!!! Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

Helloooo, first of all: thanks to everyone who joined us for our first ever BATC IRL meetup! We had so much fun swapping books in Central Park with y'all 😍 on today's episode, we have a wide range of books from medical horror to investigative nonfiction to a fictional music book, plus the spinoff of a pod-favorite YA fantasy series that you may remember one of us chatting about at the beginning of the pandemic… thank you forever 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 just read: Lakewood by Megan Giddings (15:00-27:17)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/lakewood-megan-giddings
On Emily’s TBR: The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith
Libby just read: Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe (27:18-48:53)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/612861/empire-of-pain-by-patrick-radden-keefe/
On Libby’s TBR: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Becky just read: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber (48:54-56:30)
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250268396/onceuponabrokenheart
On Becky’s TBR: A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
Kayla just read: Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie (56:31-1:03:58)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/667600/songs-in-ursa-major-by-emma-brodie/
On Kayla’s TBR: Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey
Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions are our own.

Birthdays on the Brain Sep 20, 2021

Show notes

First thing’s first: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our resident mad scientist host, Emily! Go wish her a happy birthday tomorrow, and stream some Earth, Wind, & Fire in her honor. But when you’re done doing that, get ready for a great episode 😎 today, we’re talking favorite birthdays, thrillers, buzzy literary fiction, YA romance, historical fiction, and everything in between (per usual). PS: if you’re in NYC, we hope to see you at our Central Park meetup this coming weekend (September 25!) More info on that on our website: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com. 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 https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and send us an email at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Kayla just read: The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell (12:50-19:24)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Night-She-Disappeared/Lisa-Jewell/9781982137366

On Kayla’s TBR: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Libby just read: The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Delila Harris (19:25-29:17)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Other-Black-Girl/Zakiya-Dalila-Harris/9781982160135

On Libby’s TBR: Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Emily just read: Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi (29:18-38:04)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Emergency-Contact/Mary-H-K-Choi/9781534408975

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

Becky just read: A Most Clever Girl by Stephanie Marie Thornton (38:05-51:11)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/635203/a-most-clever-girl-by-stephanie-marie-thornton/

On Becky’s TBR: The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore

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

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Megan Collins Sep 13, 2021

Show notes

If you’ve been following the pod for a while, you’ll probably remember Kayla raving about a couple of fantastic thrillers by Megan Collins. Kayla got to sit down with Megan to talk about all things The Family Plot. Stay tuned to hear Kayla and Megan talk about the complexities around loving true crime, their favorite cold cases, the dynamics of family, and how the seeds of Megan’s stories are typically planted. **WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM 29:10-41:58** -- if you have yet to pick this up and you don’t want the twist spoiled, we recommend skipping over this section :) We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did! Feel free to send us a note about this interview, Megan’s book, your favorite true crime, or anything else at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------>

The Family Plot by Megan Collins: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Family-Plot/Megan-Collins/9781982163846

The Red Door by Megan Collins: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Behind-the-Red-Door/Megan-Collins/9781982130404

Megan just read and loved: Chloe Cates is Missing by Mandy by Mandy McHugh https://penzlerpublishers.com/chloe-cates-is-missing/

Find Megan online! https://www.megancollins.com/, or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megancollinswriter/ or Twitter: https://twitter.com/ImMeganCollins

PS: here are the two episodes where Kayla covers Megan’s books!

Behind the Red Door: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/books-and-the-city/id1500784660?i=1000486949779

The Family Plot: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frosty-chicken-nuggets-hold-the-ketchup/id1500784660?i=1000533542862

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos

“Those Movies Are Better Than the Books!” Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

Hi Friends! Happy Labor Day! Join us to hear a few announcements about the Patreon restructure and our IRL fan club meetup later this month, before we launch into all of the content (movies, music, and shows) that we’ve been loving recently. After that, we’ve got some foodie memoirs, a fantasy romance, and literary fiction revolving around mental health. Thanks as always for listening! And don’t forget to shop the amazing merch from our amazing illustrator, Nicole! Find her designs here: Istoria Press, www.istoriapress.com. Grab your BATC merch (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 https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, and send us an email at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com------------->

Libby just read: Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain (13:40-25:32)

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/kitchen-confidential-updated-ed-anthony-bourdain?variant=32154105413666

On Libby’s TBR: Kept Animals by Kate Milliken

Emily just read: Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (25:33-33:24)

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/sorrow-and-bliss-meg-mason?variant=32126615683106

On Emily’s TBR: Outline by Rachel Cusk

Becky just read: You Had Me at Pét-Nat by Rachel Signer (33:25-43:06)

https://www.hachettebooks.com/titles/rachel-signer/you-had-me-at-pet-nat/9780306924750/

On Becky’s TBR: Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Kayla just read: From Blood and Ask by Jennifer L. Armentrout (43:07-51:47)

https://theblueboxpress.com/books/jennifer-l-armentrout-from-blood-and-ash/

On Kayla’s TBR: We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

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

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Anna Bailey Sep 02, 2021

Show notes

A couple weeks ago, Kayla talked about a debut thriller called Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey, and we all thought it sounded so good. And today, we’re excited to share an interview with the one and only Anna Bailey! Kayla chats with Anna about how her UK roots influenced this small-town mystery, her young writing journey, and the upsides of being an outsider. Plus! Find out some behind the scenes secrets about why Anna’s book title changed when it was published here in the US, and which Hollywood star she would cast in a movie or show adaptation of her book. We hope you enjoy this chat! Feel free to send us a note about this interview, Anna’s book, or anything else at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------>

Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Where-the-Truth-Lies/Anna-Bailey/9781982157166

Anna just read and loved: The Ophelia Girls by Jane Healy

https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/The-Ophelia-Girls/9780358105268

Find Anna on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/annabaileywrites/?hl=en or on Twitter @annafbailey

Psst! Here’s the episode where Kayla covers Where the Truth Lies, ICYMI: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weekly-highlights/id1500784660?i=1000532791803

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos