Fully Booked by Kirkus Reviews

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2025 Holiday Gift Guide with Ben Schott and Michael W. Twitty Nov 04, 2025

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On this special episode, we present the 8th annual Fully Booked Holiday Gift Guide. Guest cohost Tom Beer joins host Megan Labrise in welcoming authors Ben Schott (Schott’s Significa; Workman) and Michael W. Twitty (Recipes From the American South; Phaidon). And Kirkus’ editors present their top holiday gift book picks.

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Catherine Newman Oct 28, 2025

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New York Times bestselling author Catherine Newman joins us to discuss Wreck (Harper/HarperCollins, October 28), the follow-up to 2024’s Sandwich. Kirkus calls the new novel, “A heartbreaking, laugh-provoking, and absolutely Ephron-esque look at the beauty and fragility of everyday life” (starred review). Then our editors recommend their top picks in books for the week.

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Joyce Vance Oct 21, 2025

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Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance joins us to discuss Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy (Dutton, October 21). Kirkus calls it, “A hopeful manifesto for a renewed democracy.” Then our editors recommend their top picks in books for the week.

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Mystery, Thrillers, and Horror with Janice Hallett Oct 14, 2025

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On a special Mystery, Thrillers, and Horror episode, Janice Hallett joins us to discuss her latest murder mystery, The Killer Question (Atria, September 23). Kirkus: “A quintessential British pub, an escalating quiz-night rivalry, and a deeply personal mystery unfold in this clever epistolary tale.” Then our editors share some thrilling, chilling book recommendations.

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2025 Kirkus Prize with Thérèse Purcell Nielsen Oct 07, 2025

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On a special episode of Fully Booked, we’re celebrating the 2025 Kirkus Prize finalists, ahead of our annual awards ceremony on Oct. 8. First, fiction judge Thérèse Purcell Nielsen joins us to discuss the process of selecting six outstanding works of fiction from hundreds of eligible titles. Then Kirkus’ editors add their insights to this year’s prize process.

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Best Books of October 2025 with Kate McKinnon Sep 30, 2025

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On our Best October books episode, Kirkus’ editors share their top titles for the month. Then Kate McKinnon joins us to discuss Secrets of the Purple Pearl, book two in her #1 New York Times-bestselling middle grade series, “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science” (Little, Brown, September 30). “In a race against their enemies, the Porch girls must find a peculiar pearl in order to foil a fiendish plot… Unforgettably quirky, fast-paced fun” (starred review).

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YY Liak Sep 23, 2025

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Author-illustrator YY Liakjoins us to discuss Curious Coffins and Riveting Rituals: Death Practices Around the World(Chronicle Books, September 30), a vibrant volume Kirkus calls “an endearing and lighthearted look at the fate that awaits us all.” Then our editors recommend their top picks in books for the week.

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Leni Zumas Sep 16, 2025

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Bestselling author Leni Zumas (Red Clocks) joins us to discuss her latest novel, Wolf Bells (Algonquin, September 16). “A young girl and her autistic cousin seek refuge in an intergenerational community,” Kirkus writes in a review of this “tender and well-told story about the meaning of family.” Then our editors recommend their top picks in books for the week.

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Rabih Alameddine Sep 09, 2025

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National Book Award finalist and PEN/Faulkner Award winner Rabih Alameddine joins us to discuss The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (And His Mother) (Grove, September 2). Kirkus calls his latest novel “a sharp exploration of resilience in dark times.” Then our editors recommend their top picks in books for the week.

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Best Books of September 2025 with Eliana Ramage Sep 02, 2025

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On our Best September books episode, Kirkus’ editors share their top titles for the month. Then Eliana Ramage joins us to discuss To the Moon and Back (Avid Reader Press, September 2), a debut novel about a gifted young woman who dreams of becoming the first Cherokee astronaut. Kirkus: “This author is as ambitious as her protagonist: There are three novels worth of material here, all good. The moon or bust!” (starred review).

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