The League of Extraordinary Readers

Would You Write A Memoir ft. ‘Firstborn Girls’ by Bernice L. McFadden Aug 26, 2025

This week on The League of Extraordinary Readers, we dive into memoirs and review Firstborn Girls by Bernice L. McFadden. We share our weekly updates, book hauls, and talk about how literature and pop culture connect.

Perfect for readers, Black women, Black authors, BIPOC readers, and anyone who loves thoughtful book discussions.

New episodes every Tuesday—join our community of extraordinary readers!

👇🏾 Books Mentioned in This Episode:

Careless People

Dominion

Putting Myself Together

Birth of a Dynasty

The Catch

Plus Size Player

A Devil Went Down To Georgia

Make Your Way Home

Cursed Daughters

Firstborn Girls

Titus

Destry

Midnight Rooms

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery

Cappadonna

What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted

The Color of Water

Mainline Mama

Men We Reaped

Katabasis

Babel

Yellowface

In Search of Satisfaction

Positive Obsession

The Weight

✒️ Authors Mentioned:

Alexis Henderson

Safiya Sinclair

J California Cooper

Octavia Butler

📺 TV Shows Mentioned:

📲 Follow Us & Join the Conversation:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Facts, Feels, And Fat Phobia! Aug 19, 2025

Welcome to The League of Extraordinary Readers Podcast!

In this week’s episode, we recap the book events we attended, share what we’ve been reading lately, and dive into the Cardi B vs Samyra debate 👀📚.

🎙️ The League of Extraordinary Readers is a literary podcast where two Black women discuss books, culture, and everything in between—bridging the gap between literature and pop culture. If you love books, BIPOC authors, and conversations that mix intellect with entertainment, this podcast is for you.

✨ New episodes every Tuesday—don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe so you never miss an update!

📖 Topics in This Episode:

• Book events we attended 📚

• What we’ve been reading lately

• Cardi B vs Samyra debate

• Bridging literature & pop culture

📢Church Announcements:

August’s Book Pick: Firstborn Girls by Bernice L McFadden: https://bookshop.org/p/books/firstborn-girls-a-memoir-bernice-l-mcfadden/21611301

Jess’s Pango Shop: Check it out!

Jess’s Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LiteratureNoir?ref=dashboard-header

👇🏾 Books Mentioned in This Episode:

Black Genius

My Government Means To Kill Me

People Like Us

Dread Nation

The Ghost of Gwendolyn Montgomery

Hell of a Book

Cappadonna

Make Your Way Home

Holler, Child!

Secret Lives of Church Ladies

Everything Inside

Dear Born

Neighbors and other stories

Red Clay

A Virgin Surrogate& A Underboss

Cursed Daughters

Midnight Rooms

The Grand Paloma Resort

Neruda on the Park

The Catch

Firstborn Girls

Coleman Hill

The Warmth of Other Sons

The Witness

If Beale Street Could Talk

Go Tell It On The Mountain

✒️ Authors Mentioned:

Rasheed Newsom

Charles Deshawn Winslow

Jesmyn Ward

Edwidge Danticat

Maisy Card

Kim Coleman Foote

Angela Flournoy

Roxann Gay

📺 TV Shows Mentioned:

📲 Follow Us & Join the Conversation:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

#booktube #literarypodcasts #blackpodcasts

We Are The Elders In The Room Aug 12, 2025

Welcome to The League of Extraordinary Readers Podcast!

In this episode, we dive into the latest Center for Fiction Longlist and the Booker Prize Longlist— sharing our thoughts, must-reads, and books that have us most excited. We also take a fun detour to talk about getting older, life changes, and how our reading tastes evolve over time.

Whether you’re a reader, a fan of Black authors, or just looking for your next great read, this episode is full of bookish banter, literary awards chatter, and diverse reading recommendations you won’t want to miss.

✨ What We Cover in This Episode:

• The Center for Fiction 2025 Longlist highlights 📖

• The Booker Prize 2025 Longlist picks 🏆

• Reflections on aging and how it changes our reading lives

• Book recommendations for every kind of reader

🎧 Listen, relax, and join our growing community of extraordinary readers!

👇 Books Mentioned:

Washington Black

I Am Not Sidney Poitier

Summer’s Echo

Blood Slaves

Harlem Rhapsody

Pan

If The Dead Belong Here

Mayra

Loca

Awake in the Floating City

Fantasies of Future Things

Natch

This Here is Love

📲 Follow Us & Join the Conversation:

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

#Books #BlackBookTube #BookerPrize #CenterForFiction #BlackAuthors #BookRecommendations #ReadingLife

Where Is Jeff?! Aug 05, 2025

Reading The Weight by Jeff Boyd + August Goals & Weekly Reads

In this episode of The League of Extraordinary Readers, we dive deep into The Weight by Jeff Boyd—a thought-provoking contemporary novel exploring mental health, masculinity, and identity. We share our personal reading experiences, favorite moments, and reflections.

Plus, we chat about our August reading goals and everything we’ve been reading this past week—from romance to literary fiction, and more!

If you’re into bookish convos, literary analysis, and discovering powerful Black and BIPOC stories, this is the podcast for you.

📢Church Announcements:

August’s Book Pick: Firstborn Girls by Bernice L McFadden: https://bookshop.org/p/books/firstborn-girls-a-memoir-bernice-l-mcfadden/21611301

Firstborn Gir

Jess’s Pango Shop: Check it out!

👇🏾 Books Mentioned in This Episode

The Weight

Zami

Such A Fun Age

Blood Slaves

First Born Girls

The Friend Contract

The Alpha Affair

Boom Town

Bones At The Crossroads

The Great Mann

August Lane

The Art of Scandal

This Here is Love

Washington Black

No Sense In Wishing

People Like Us

Cappadonna

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery

A Perfect Party

107 Days

People Like Us

The Great Gatsby

House of Eve

Take My Hand

Homecoming

Harlem Rhapsody

Trinity

The Last Thing You Surrender

Black Genius

The Catch

Conjuring of America

📝Authors Mentioned:

Robbi Renee

Beverly Jenkins

Brenda Jackson

📺TV Shows/Movie:

👇🏾 Connect With Us & Support the Show

📸 🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

💬 Drop a comment or review to let us know your August TBR!

#ReadingBlack #BookPodcast #TheLeagueofExtraordinaryReaders

The Miseducation of Black Women In Media Jul 29, 2025

📚 The League of Extraordinary Readers Podcast | Episode: Black Women in Books, Media & Love Island

Welcome back to The League of Extraordinary Readers — a literary podcast where stories meet culture. In this episode, we’re catching up on our week, the books we’ve been reading, shows we’ve been watching, and diving into a much-needed conversation about how Black women are represented in media.

From book characters to reality TV, including the latest season of Love Island, we unpack the good, the bad, and the messy. We also talk about the importance of how Black women show up in fiction and real life, and why representation still matters.

🎧 Tune in if you’re into:

• Black literary podcasts

• Real convos about Black women in books and reality TV

• Diverse book recommendations

• Smart, funny, unfiltered reading talk

👇 Drop your favorite book or show featuring Black women in the comments!

📚 Books Mentioned:

Mexican Gothic

The Bewitching

Lot

Memorial

Palaver

The Great Mann

People Like Us

Capone

Cappadonna

Biggie

Washington Black

Boom Town

Surrender To Me

Harmattan Season

Perish

Only For The Week

Sinful Restraint

📺 Shows Discussed:

Love Island

Smoke

💬 Stay Connected:

Subscribe + turn on notifications so you never miss a bookish episode.

🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

📢Church Announcements:

July’s Book Pick: The Weight by Jeff Boyd https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-weight-jeff-boyd/18667844b

Jess’s Pango Shop: Check it out!

📣 Join the convo:

#BlackReaders #BookCommunity #LoveIslandTalk

🎙️ About The League of Extraordinary Readers:

We’re here to spotlight books, build community, and center Black and BIPOC voices in every chapter, genre, and medium.

Literature Extraordinaire Ft. RissieReadsAlot Jul 20, 2025

The League of Extraordinary Readers Podcast | Summer Reading & Book Chat

Welcome to another episode of The League of Extraordinary Readers, your favorite literary podcast centering Black and BIPOC readers! In this episode, we’re joined by a fellow book lover to talk all things summer reading — from the genres we gravitate toward in the heat to the books we’re recommending this season.

We also chat about what we’ve been reading lately and the shows we’re currently obsessed with. If you’re looking for your next read, a new literary podcast to follow, or want to vibe with a Black bookish community — you’re in the right place.

🖤 Tap in, subscribe, and join the conversation

📌 Support the Show & Stay Connected:

🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Charisse’s IG&Threads: rissiereadsalot

Charisse’s podcast: https://www.instagram.com/menace2booksociety?igsh=MWhtNnU0ZDZ4NXJ0cw==

📢Church Announcements:

July’s Book Pick: The Weight by Jeff Boyd https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-weight-jeff-boyd/18667844b

Jess’s Pango Shop: Check it out!

📖Books Mentioned:

King of Ashes

Between Lovers and Friends

Harmattan Season

Capone

Cappadonna

Don Caseli

Capri

The Danger Series

Hostile Takeover

The DeSantis Cartel

The Great Mann

The Rage of Dragons

The Will of Many

The Fifth Season

The Broken Earth Trilogy

Black Sun

You Made A Fool of Death With Your Beauty

Biggie

Boom Town

Make Your Way Home

Can’t Get Enough

Crime and Punishment

24 Seconds From Now…

Curvy Girl Summer

Plus Size Player

Mastery Of Monster

Delicious Monsters

Fire on High

How to Love a Jamaican

How to say Babylon

The Reformatory

This Poison Heart

The Butterfly Garden

The Easy Rawlins Series

📝Authors Mentioned:

KC Mills

Monaye Paris

John Conyers III

Walter Mosley

Bernice L McFadden

📺TV Shows/Movie:

Love Island

The Sandman

Shrinking

We Still Here Jul 15, 2025

The League of Extraordinary Readers | We’re Back! Summer Reads, Real-Life Romance Recs & More

We’re back from our summer break with a brand-new episode of The League of Extraordinary Readers! In this episode, we catch up on everything we’ve been reading and watching—from powerful books by Black authors to thought-provoking documentaries. Plus, we share real-life romance recommendations that go beyond the page. Whether you’re deep into your reading era or just looking for a new Black book community to vibe with, this is the episode for you!

🎧 What We Cover in This Episode:

• Books we read over the summer 📖

• Documentaries that made us think 🎬

• Romance recommendations with real-life flavor ❤️

• Why we love storytelling that centers Black lives and joy

✨ Join the League:

If you’re a reader who loves diverse stories, literary analysis, and a space that uplifts Black voices—welcome home.

👇🏾 Drop your favorite summer reads in the comments!

📌 Support the Show & Stay Connected:

🎧 https://beacons.ai/tloer

📧Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

📱Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

📢Church Announcements:

July’s Book Pick: The Weight by Jeff Boyd https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-weight-jeff-boyd/18667844b

Jess’s Pango Shop: Check it out!

📖Books Mentioned:

The Weight

Blood at the Root

Bones at the Crossroads

Soundtrack

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery

You Made A Fool of Death with Your Beauty

Tar Baby

Great Black Hope

Make Your Way Home

No Sense In Wishing

A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl

24 Seconds from Now…

Great Black Hope

Capone

Washington Black

Harmattan Season

Somadina

Pet

Bitter

Emergence and Ascendance

Only For The Week

Meant To Love You

Implied Consent

I Fucked Somebody’s Wife

Freaked Out: This Is Single

The Weekend Omnibus

Cutthroat

Violent Little Thing

For His Pleasure

Where Love Blooms

📝Authors Mentioned:

Victor LaValle

Deesha Philyaw

Kiese Laymon

Dawnie Walton

Carrie R. Moore

Lawrence Burney

Hanif Abdurraqib

Irvin Weathersby Jr.

📺TV Shows/Movie:

Love Island

The Sandman

The Poop Cruise

American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden

Titan: The Oceangate Disaster

Land of Bad

Gold & Greed: The Hunt For Fenn’s Treasure

N*gga With The Big ‘N’ May 06, 2025

It’s Summer Break! Life is happening so we are going on break early but you can catch up on old episodes and follow our personal pages! Jess and I talk about the woes of being a woman, books, and more!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Church Announcements:

Parable of the Talents Book Club&Discussion: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blk-events-la-friends-parable-of-the-talents-book-club-discussion-tickets-1328521606889?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

Subscribe to YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@leagueofextraordinaryreaders?si=5hiDShVMf84UIPTe

Jess’s Pango Shop: Check it out!

Books Mentioned:

In Search of Good Pussy

Jazz

In Search of Satisfaction

Beloved

Paradise

Song of Solomon

Sula

Love

Another Word for Love

Can’t Get Enough

Curvy Girl Summer

Plus Size Player

My Darkest Prayer

Razorblade Tears

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde

All We Were Promised

Fearless and Free

Ring Shout

Lone Women

Authors Mentioned:

Tina McElroy Ansa

J. California Cooper

Walter Mosley

Richard Wright

TV Shows/Movie:

The Last of Us

The Handmaid’s Tale

Bibliotherapy And Ernest Hemingway (ft. Emely Rumble) Apr 29, 2025

This week Jess & Shelbey talk current reads, chat books and writing with Emely Rumble and More!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Emely’s IG&Threads: literapy_NYC

Church Announcements:

Parable of the Talents Book Club&Discussion: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blk-events-la-friends-parable-of-the-talents-book-club-discussion-tickets-1328521606889?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

Subscribe to YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@leagueofextraordinaryreaders?si=5hiDShVMf84UIPTe

Books Mentioned:

Harriet Tubman Live In Concert

Bibliotherapy in the Bronx

Fearless and Free

American Marriage

The Day God Saw Me As Black

The Road is Good

The Blueprint

The Bluest Eye

Their Eyes Were Watching God

All We Were Promised

The Wildest Sun

TV Shows/Movie:

The Residence

The Pitt

Castlevania

The Last of Us

The Handmaid’s Tale

YN or YA!? Apr 22, 2025

This week Jess & Shelbey talk current reads, the caste system, and more! Oh we finally have visuals!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Church Announcements:

Parable of the Talents Book Club&Discussion: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blk-events-la-friends-parable-of-the-talents-book-club-discussion-tickets-1328521606889?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

Subscribe to YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@leagueofextraordinaryreaders?si=5hiDShVMf84UIPTe

Books Mentioned:

The Bluest Eye

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Gifted and Cursed

The Devil Three Times

Bloodmarked

Zeal

Sneakin and Freakin with my Professor

The Oath

The Offer

The Opportunity

The Little Liar

The Lion Women of Tehran

The Stationary Shop

Somadina

Audre and Bash are Just Friends

Twenty-Four Seconds From Now

TV Shows/Movie:

The Residence

The Pitt

Castlevania

The Last of Us

The Handmaid’s Tale

I Am Dr. Umar Apr 08, 2025

This week Jess is Dr. Umar, Shelbey might be as well, and they talk about books read, how their weeks were and the caste system!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Church Announcements:

Books Mentioned:

You Hide I’ll Seek

One For Two

Caste

Devil Is Fine

The Devil Three Times

Jazz

Tar Baby

Perish

Caste

Somadina

Bibliotherapy In The Bronx

Zeal

The Color of Water

The Warmth of Other Suns

TV Shows/Movie:

Where Dem Fans At?! Apr 01, 2025

This week Jess and Shelbey talk about what we reading, DNFs, and Marvin Sapp!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Church Announcements:

Books Mentioned:

Harlem Rhapsody

King of Ashes

All The Sinners Bleed

Razorblade Tears

Sky Full of Elephants

Destry

Titus

No One Gets To Fall Apart

Zami

A Ting on Plaintain

The Black Girl Afro

Afrobeats

Caste

Devil Is Fine

The Devil Three Times

The Sweetness of Water

Cappadonna 3.5

Capri

Quasim

The Death of Vivek Oji

Death of the Author

Tar Baby

The Color of Water

Zeal

Sula

Nobody To Love You Better

The Art of Scandal

TV Shows/Movie:

All Erykah Badu's Baby Daddies Mar 25, 2025

This week Jess and Shelbey talk what we reading, watching and more

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Church Announcements:

Books Mentioned:

Harlem Rhapsody

Quilting The Black Eyed Pea

Zami

South To America

Black In Blues

The Weight

New Internationals

Death of the Author

King of Ashes

Blacktop Wasteland

My Darkest Prayer

Destry

Titus

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Sula

Parable Of The Sower

Dante’s Inferno

Tar Baby

Caste

Bloodmarked

The Rage of Dragons

Fires of Vengeance

The Sweetness Of Water

White Teeth

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Sing, Unburied, Sing

Firstborn Girls

Devil Is Fine

Bloodchild

Denge Boy

The Devil Three Times

Paradise

The Wilderness

Blacktop Wasteland

Delicious Foods

Zeal

The Song of Solomon

Remembrance

The Dream Maker

The Edge of Yesterday

TV Shows/Movie:

American Murder: Gabby Petito

The Curious Case Of

90 Day Fiancé

Chamomile Tea Ft. Cebo Campbell Mar 18, 2025

This week Jess and Shelbey chat with Cebo Campbell about books, authors, and more

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Church Announcements:

March’s Book Club Picks: Zami by Audre Lorde & Quilting The Black Eyed Pea
Brunchin’ With The Author ft. Cebo Campbell: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brucnhin-with-the-author-with-cebo-campbell-tickets-1266682263749?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios
The Book Club Diaries: https://open.substack.com/pub/shelbeymonae?r=8kt65&utm_medium=ios

Books Mentioned:

Sky Full of Elephants

Jane Eyre

Sula

This Great Hemisphere

The Exorcist

In Open Contempt

Kingdom of no Tomorrow

Of Water And the Spirit

Neighbors And Other Stories

The Color Purple

Harlem Rhapsody

King of Ashes

Parable of the Sower

Bloodchild

Caste

Death of the Author

Tar Baby

Firstborn Girla

TV Shows/Movie:

American Murder: Gabby Petito

The Curious Case Of

90 Day Fiancé

Speaking Of Polygamy Mar 11, 2025

In this week’s episode Jess and Shelbey catch up, have a bunch of church announcements and more.

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Church Announcements:

March’s Book Club Picks: Zami by Audre Lorde & Quilting The Black Eyed Pea
Cebo Campbell is coming next week: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brucnhin-with-the-author-with-cebo-campbell-tickets-1266682263749?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios
Brunchin’ With The Author ft. Cebo Campbell
The Book Club Diaries: https://open.substack.com/pub/shelbeymonae?r=8kt65&utm_medium=ios

Books Mentioned:

Legendborn

The Blackwood After Dark Series

Hostile Takeover

Devon

Declan

The Secret World of Maggie Grey

Harlem Rhapsody

Mainline Mama

Audre and Bash are Just Friends

Personal Librarian

TV Shows/Movie:

American Murder: Gabby Petito

The Curious Case Of

Pretty Books ft. @bookswithjaybraggs Feb 25, 2025

In this week’s episode, Jess and Shelbey chat with Jay of Cover Snob about books, what it’s like having a book subscription and more!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Jay’s socials: https://www.instagram.com/bookswithjaybraggs?igsh=a2p4cTJrYXhmOWE0

Coversnob: https://www.instagram.com/coversnobbox?igsh=OTdiZjBrYmMwNDlj

Books Mentioned:

Got Abducted By Aliens And Now I’m Trapped In A Rom-Com

Devon

Declan

The Danger Series

The Blackwood After Dark Series

One Eighty

The Vegas Nights Series

The De Santis Cartel

Ethic Series

Butterfly Series

The Message

Legendborn

Bloodmarked

Flirting Lessons

Plus Sized Player

Somebody’s Wife

Somebody’s Husband

Somebody’s Forever

Junie

Beloved

Sing Unburied Sing

Jane Eyre

Homegoing

They Were Her Property

The Turner House

Through The Storm

Topaz

Parable Of The Sower

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Indigo

Immortal Dark

The Secret World of Maggie Grey

Audre and Bash Are Just Friends

24 Seconds From Now

Church Announcements:

Shelbey’s Substack: https://shelbeymonae.substack.com/p/i-survived?r=8kt65

TV Shows/Movie:

American Murder: Gabby Petito

The Curious Case Of

Book Besties ft. @knotabookclub & @books.and.bouldering Feb 18, 2025

On this week's episode Jess and Shelbey hang out with book besties Bridget and Danya to talk all things books and more.

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Bridget’s IG&Threads: @knotabookclub

Santa’s IG&Threads: @books.and.bouldering

Books Mentioned:

The Filth Kings

Mafia Misfits Series

Children of Blood and Bone

Junie

James

The Winner’s

The Beartown Series

Jade City

Harlem Rhapsody

The Prophets

One Night Only

No One Gets To Fall Apart

The Trees

The De Santis Cartel

The Man Who Haunted Himself

Mumbo Jumbo

They Were Her Property

I Got Abducted By Aliens And

Now I’m Trapped In A Rom-Com

Flyy Girl

Inkheart

Dark Matter

Sweet Magnolias

Little Rot

Original Sins

Deep Cuts

Ours

Wilderness

The Turner House

Can’t Get Enough

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

Lone Women

The Changeling

Topaz

The Rage of Dragons

Church Announcements:

BLK Events LA & Friends: Parable of the Sower Book Club & Discussion: BLK Events LA & Friends: Parable of the Sower Book Club & Discussion

TV Shows/Movie:

The Pitt

Greys Anatomy

The Resident

Chicago Med

Doc

24

The Curious Case Of

An Update On Our Family

The Brutalist

Arcane

Paradise

Meet The Browns

Poly&Paranormal ft. TheBklynBookBelle Feb 11, 2025

In this week’s episode Jess, Shelbey, and Phylicia talk all things Black Romance and Love, the YA genre and more!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Phylicia’s IG&Threads: thebklynbookbelle

YouTube:https://youtu.be/mbacxvA8M6U?si=omfV_3DChk6A8moj

Books Mentioned:

Stealing The Heart of A Boujee BBW

Demon’s Dream

Knight

Ready For War

Shadows and Whispers

Dawning and Resurgence

The De Santis Cartel

Belle

Josephine

Captured

Topaz

So This Is Love

Take A Chance

The Best Is Yet To Cum

Frenimies With Benefits

Colored Television

Yellowface

Mutually Beneficial Agreement

Blackwood After Dark Series

Witch Trapment

Mine

Yours

The Oath

The Offer

Real Girls Get Down

Hood Crucifixion

The Danger Series

Last Summer On State Street

The Trees

Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right

Junie

A Little Dare

24 Seconds From Now…

Behind Those Eyes

Love Stoned

Church Announcements:

BLK Events LA & Friends: Parable of the Sower Book Club & Discussion:BLK Events LA & Friends: Parable of the Sower Book Club & Discussion

TV Shows/Movie:

Is It Sex... Or Is It A Flower?! Feb 04, 2025

In this week’s episode Jess and Shelbey have a few church announcements, they review Topaz by Beverly Jenkins, and more!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Books Mentioned:

Stealing The Heart of A Boujee BBW

A Tall Dude Yellow Dude With Tattoos

Topaz

Parable of the Sower

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Paradise

Demon’s Dream

A Love Song For Ricki Wilde

The Prophets

Let Us Descend

Queenie

Luster

Memphis

Indigo

Through The Storm

Caste

Curvy Girl Summer

The Bluest Eye

Harlem Rhapsody

Mainline Mama

A Mastery of Monsters

Black Sun

A Girl Within A Girl

Symphony of Secrets

King Of Ashes

Tuff

Plus Size Player

Things Fall Apart

A Woman of Endurance

24 Seconds From Now

The Madness

When Crack is King

Colored Television

Neighbors and Other Stories

The Trees

Church Announcements:

BLK Events LA & Friends: Parable of the Sower Book Club & Discussion: BLK Events LA & Friends: Parable of the Sower Book Club & Discussion

TV Shows/Movie:

Lawmen: Bass Reeves

The Erykah Badu-Esqe Woman Jan 28, 2025

In this week's episode Shelbey and Jess talk politics, current reads, the Children of Blood and Bone casting and more!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Books Mentioned:

Sula

Beloved

Sky Full of Elephants

Paradise

All The Sinner’s Bleed

Demon’s Dream

Topaz

Fences

Between Friends And Lovers

Fearless And Free

Junie

Ours

Harlem Rhapsody

Sugar

Black In Blues

America To South

The Improvisors

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

The House of Eve

Colored Television

Stash: My Life In Hiding

Caucasia

The Conductors

The Undertakers

The Monsters We Defy

Daughters of the Merciful Deep

Rage of Dragons

The Wheel Of Time

The Cosmere

Dune

Blood At The Root

The Secret World of Maggie Grey

The Blackwood After Dark Series

The Blood Scion

The Broken Earth Trilogy

The Best Is Yet To Cum

Friend U Can Keep

Whisper A Promise

TV Shows/Movie:

Young Rich and African

WAGS

90 Day Fiance

The Curious Case Of...

Intro To Hotep 101 Jan 21, 2025

Happy 2025! Jess and Shelbey talk about their weeks, books they are reading, reading goals for the new year and more!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Books Mentioned:

Topaz

The Colpr of Water

Five-Carat Soul

Heaven And Earth Grocery Store

Song Yet Sung

Miracle At St. Anna

Colored Television

James

The Trees

Late Bloomers

Katabasis

Babel

Yellowface

The Poppy War Series

Quilting The Black Eyed Pea

The Kneeling Man

The Autobiography of an Ex Colored Man

In Open Contempt

The Life of Herod The Great

A More Perfect Party

All the Sinners Bleed

The Souls of Black Folks

Don’t Cry For Me

Isaac’s Song

Mine

TV Shows/Movie:

Castlevania

Castlevania: Nocturne

90 Day Fiancé

An Update on Our Family

Jerry Springer Netflix Doc

See Y'all In 2025 Dec 10, 2024

This week Jess and Shelbey talk make some church announcements, review Christmas In Spite of You and more

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Books Mentioned:

Native Son

Bluest Eye

Trouble The Water

Mr. Porter

Wings of Red

There, There

Wandering Stars

Never Whistle At Night

Whiskey Tender

Parable of the Talents

Hungry Ghost

Real Girls Get Down

The Wreck

Christmas In Spite of You

Sula

The Blueprint

White Out

TV Shows/Movie:

Cross

The Madness

Not The Versace Dec 03, 2024

This week Jess and Shelbey talk about Gladiator 2, books, Anne Rice used to sue people and more!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Books Mentioned:

Between The World And Me

James

Huck Finn

Dawn

Parable of the Talents

The Message

Concerning Those Who Have Fallen Asleep

The Wreck

Another Word for Love

Black Boy

The Color of Water

The City And Its Uncertain Walls

Kayland and Ora

Unrestrained

Unmistakable

Undeniable

Kingdom of no Tomorrow

TV Shows/Movie:

Gladiator 2

Wicked

Watch Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey

Literature Extraordinaire Ft. Sara of AnnotateWithSara Nov 26, 2024

This week Jess and Shelbey review The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates with Sara of AnnotatewithSara

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Sara’s IG: @annotatewithsara

Sara’s Blog: annotatewithsara.com

Books Mentioned:

The Message

The Supreme’s At Earl’s All You Can Eat

Parable of the Talents

Scenes From My Life

Never Whistle At Night

Curvy Obsessions

Freedom Is A Constant Struggle

The Water Dancer

Sky Full of Elephants

Capitalism Is The Real Issue! Nov 19, 2024

This week Jess and Shelbey talk about their kindles, what they’ve read this week and canceling amazon

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Books Mentioned:

Implied Consent

Truth or Dare

Nami’s Ecstasy

Asha&Geno

The Supreme’s At Earl’s All You Can Eat

The Legs Are The Last To Go

Parable of the Sower

Parable of the Talents

Indigo

Big Nick Energy

The Secret World of Maggie Grey

The First Family

This Cursed House

Bitter And Sweet

The Thing About Home

The Death of Vivek Oji

The Monster We Defy

Christmas In Spite of You

Tv Shows:

Sprint

Annotating With Jess, Shelbey& Sara ft. AnnotateWithSara Nov 05, 2024

This week Jess and Shelbey chat with Sara of AnnotateWithSara about all things annotating books, fiction and nonfiction!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Sara’s Socials

IG: https://www.instagram.com/annotatewithsara?igsh=MXBqamxzc2E5dDBpZA==

Website: annotatewithsara.com

Books Mentioned:

The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience

The 1619 Project

Black Archives: A Photographic Celebration of Black Life

Parable of the Sower

Black Utopians

Passiontide

The Reformatory

Song Yet Sung

Witch-Trapment

The Deep

Another Country

The Trees

The Barn

The Nickel Boys

The Wishing Pool and Other Stories

Ghost Summer

The Message

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store

Deacon King Kong

A Miracle At St Anna

Five Caret Soul

Sky Full of Elephants

Paradise

Of One Blood

Earthseed Series

James

A Love Song For Ricki Wilde

Model Home

The Blueprint

When Crack Was King

How to Say Babylon

Just As I Am

Another Word for Love

Lessons for Survival

Alice And Wonderland

We Are A Haunting

Chain Gang All Stars

The City We Became

Dearborn

The Candide

The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas

There’s Always This Year

The Water Dancer

Between The World And Me

*insert sex scene here* ft. ML Bash Oct 29, 2024

In this week’s episode Jess and Shelbey discuss what cozy books are 😂, talk their weekly reading and interview ML Bash.

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

ML Bash Socials:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ml.bash/profilecard/?igsh=OTRoMXFhZDZjOXBl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/5BmFZbNh4gJZyaTs/?mibextid=K35XfP

Books Mentioned:

Curdle Creek

The Reformatory

The Parable of the Sower

The Black Utopians

The Supremes at Earl’s All You Can Eat

Erasure

Annie John

A Small Place

All The Sinners Bleed

The Piano Lesson

The Nickel Boys

Caste

Things Fall Apart

John Crows Devil

The Book of Night Women

Friday Black

Where There Was Fire

Of One Blood

Model Home

Salt Eaters

Song Yet Sung

The Oath

The Offer

You Hide I’ll Seek

Who You Belong To

Nobody To Love You Better

Carter and Demi

Midnight in the Grove

Rare Breed

Fated Breed

Blackwood After Dark

Somebody’s Wife

Somebody’s Forever

Somebody’s Husband

The Single Life with Zola Paterson

I'm Gon Buy A Purse Kindle Anyways! Oct 22, 2024

In this week’s episode Jess and Shelbey talk about the new kindles, content creator things, best friends and more!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Books Mentioned:

Blacktop Wasteland

Razorblade Tears

All The Sinners Bleed

My Darkest Prayer

Did You Have An Imaginary Friend

The Reformatory

Black Utopians

Curdle Creek

Dreaux

90’s Love In Cali

Rare Breed

Fated Breed

The Message

Model Home

Evocation

This Cursed House

GhostRoots

Sister Outsider

The Barn

The Truths We Hold

The Supreme’s At Earl’s All You Can Eat

Shows Mentioned:

Starting Five

Castlevania

Sweet Soft Underbelly

The Diplomat

Industry

Welcome To 30 Jess! Oct 15, 2024

In this week’s episode Jess and Shelbey talk about reading goals, tv shows, turning 30 and more!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Books Mentioned:

There’s Always This Year

Hittin’ Straight A Lick With A Crocker Stick

Blacktop Wasteland

Sex And Rescue

Rebound

Model Home

Shows Mentioned:

Mr. McMahon

The Diplomat

Orangey and Purple: https://youtu.be/gvbdh37pdU8

Got2BReal: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfKWL-GKl8DPdes_wsfIRinmtwTX5iSiN&si=mEpQeB6Ok-pKWE8U

Books Over Boys! Oct 08, 2024

In this week’s episode Jess and Shelbey talk about manifesting and prayer, books, book awards and we got our first book question!

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

National Book Awards: https://www.nationalbook.org/2024-national-book-awards-finalists-announced/

Books Mentioned:

The Message

Sky Full of Elephants

Washington Black

Out There Screaming

Paradise

The Barn

James

Ghost Roots

Martyr!

All Fours

My Friends

Magical Realism

Whiskey Tender

Knife

The Third Gilmore Girl

What I Ate In A Year

The Reformatory

Supremes At Earl’s All You Can Eat

Only For The Week

Hittin’ Straight A Lick With A Crocker Stick

There’s Always This Year

Black Utopian

How Long Until Black Future Month

Imaginary Friends

One Hundred Years of Solitude

Shows Mentioned:

Gilmore Girls

Stanley Tucci Searching For Italy

Castlevania

Dr. Stone

999 Bottles of Baby Oil On The Wall Oct 01, 2024

Happy October! This Week Jess and Shelbey talk about the Book of the Month, The Reformatory by Tananarive Due, 1000 bottles of baby oil, spooky books and more.

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Books Mentioned:

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Passiontide by Monique Rofffey

A Little Devil In America by Hanif Abdurraqib

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell

James by Percival Everett

The Blueprint by Rae Gianna Rashad

Perish by LaToya Watkins

Chain-Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

This Great Hemisphere by Mateo Askaripour

Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham

The City We Became by NK Jemisin

Dawn by Octavia Butler

Fledgling by Octavia Butler

The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan

Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

Dune by Frank Herbert

Chameleon: A Black Box Thriller by Remi Adeleke

The Man In The Basement by Walter Mosley

The Changeling by Victor Lavalle

Lone Women by Victor Lavalle

I Accidentally Summoned A Demon Boyfriend by Jessica Cage

Casualties of Truth by Lauren Francis-Smith

TV Show Mentioned:

Into The Fire (Netflix)

Jack Ryan

TikTok Mentioned:

https://www.tiktok.com/@leafydiva/video/7415053373746973995?_r=1&_t=8pprWsqqQ1b

'Stash, My Life In Hiding' Book Review Ft. Laura Cathcart Robbins Sep 24, 2024

This Week Jess and Shelbey take a deep dive into Stash: My Life In Hiding with the author Laura Cathcart Robbins.

Email Us at: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials:

IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey’s IG&Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jess’s IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Books Mentioned:

Stash: My Life In Hiding by Laura Cathcart Robbins

Passiontide by Monique Rofffey

Educated by Tara Westover

The Djinn Waits A Hundred Years by Shubnam Khan

Permission Please by Masterpiece

The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter

Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell

Armed With Good Intentions by Walo267

Liars by Sarah Manguso

A Little Devil In America by Hanif Abdurraqib

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

Quit Like A Woman by Holly Whitaker

Authors Mentioned:

Samantha Irby

Kiese Laymon

Friend, Its Coates! Sep 17, 2024

Jessica and Shelbey discuss their current reads, Q4 anticipated releases, learn some new words and more!

Follow the pod on IG&Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Shelbey's IG&Threads: @ShelbeyMonae

Jessica's IG&Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Email Us: theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Book's Mentioned:

Jessica's List:

Curdle Creek by Yvonne Battle-Felton
The Black Utopians by Aaron Robertson
John Lewis: A Life by David Greenberg
This Morning, This Evening, So Soon: James Baldwin and the Voices of Queer Resistance by James Baldwin
This Motherless Land by Nikki May
Heir by Sabaa Tahir
The Message by Ta-Nahesi Coates
Obligations to the Wounded by Mubanga Kalimamukwento
Blues in Stereo: The Early Works of Langston Hughes by Langston Hughes
Justice for Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind by Julius Garvey
This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

Shelbey's List:

Model Home by Rivers Solomon
Slaveroad by John Edgar Wideman
This Cursed House by Del Sandeen
The Rest of You by Maame Blue
The Improvisers by Nicole Glover
The Gangs of Zion: A Black Cop’s Crusade in Mormon Country by Ron Stallworth
This Morning, This Evening, So Soon: James Baldwin and the Voices of Queer Resistance by James Baldwin
John Lewis: A Life by David Greenberg
Da Baddest by Trina
The Message by Ta-Nahesi Coates

What's The Rating Gworl?! Sep 10, 2024

Jessica & Shelbey discuss their latest reads & shows, how they rate books, and the Cawpile Review System as a rating system. Will this be something they apply as they review books online and with their book clubs. Let us know how you rate your books!

Follow us at @leagueofreaders on IG & Threads

Shelbey's Instagram & Threads: @shelbeymonae

Jessica's Instagram & Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Shelbey's Youtube: @shelbeyandthebookclub

Email us at theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Books Mentioned:

My Parent's Marriage by Nana Euka Brew-Hammond
Educated by Tara Westover
The Djinn Waits A Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan
The Supremes At Earls All You Can Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore
The Piano Lesson by August Wilson

Where It All Began Sep 03, 2024

Welcome to The League of Extraordinary Readers Podcast! Shelbey and Jessica discuss why they started the podcast, what they're reading and watching, and discuss celebrity memoir culture.

Follow us on Instagram & Threads: @theleagueofreaders

Jessica's Instagram & Threads: @literaturenoirclub

Shelbeys Instagram: @shelbeymonae

Shelbey's Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@shelbeyandthebookclub?si=zFiYqYUpxtqYPvpN

Email us to connect - theleagueofreaderspod@gmail.com

Books mentioned during the podcast:

Sky Full Of Elephants by Cebo Campbell

STASH: My Life in Hiding by Laura Cathcart-Robbins

You Hide I’ll Seek by M.L. Bash

Ethic Series by Ashley Antoinette

Butterfly Series by Ashley Antoinette

The Dead Cattail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark