Episodes

Steven and I discuss his new book The Guncle, including humor in his stories, how Auntie Mame and other magical caregivers inspired this story, the special message in his Acknowledgments, how The Editor came about, and much more.

Steven and I discuss his new book The Guncle, including humor in his stories, how Auntie Mame and other magical caregivers inspired this story, the special message in his Acknowledgments, how The Editor came about, and much more. Steven’s recommended reads are: The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth Less by Andrew Sean Greer Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson A Star is Bored by Byron Lane Support or sponsor an episode of the podcast here. If you enjoyed this episode and want to l...

Ly and I discuss her new book House of Sticks, the extent to which her father’s PTSD shaped her childhood, immigrating to the United States through a humanitarian program when she was three, writing about her family, the multi-layered meaning of the book’s title, wanting to provide hope for others who may experience similar situations, and much more.

Ly and I discuss her new book House of Sticks, the extent to which her father’s PTSD shaped her childhood, immigrating to the United States through a humanitarian program when she was three, writing about her family, the multi-layered meaning of the book’s title, wanting to provide hope for others who may experience similar situations, and much more. Ly’s recommended reads are: Things We Lost to the Water by Eric Nguyen Red Rock Baby Candy by Shira Spector Information for the As the Page Tur...

Elizabeth and I discuss what constitutes a summer/beach read, reading habits and tackling our TBRs, finding diamonds in the rough, our favorite books of summer 2021, and more. Listen to the episode to hear our summer 2021 picks!

Cate and I discuss her new book Mergers and Acquisitions, what she learned while writing for the wedding section of The New York Times, focusing on how people view commitment in today’s world, juxtaposing her own love story with the wedding announcements she created, and much more.

Elizabeth and I discuss what constitutes a summer/beach read, reading habits and tackling our TBRs, finding diamonds in the rough, our favorite books of summer 2021, and more. Elizabeth’s 7 recommended summer reads: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray The Ride of Her Life: The True Story if a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts Survive the Night by Riley Sager Haven Po...

Cate and I discuss her new book Mergers and Acquisitions, what she learned while writing for the wedding section of The New York Times, focusing on how people view commitment in today’s world, juxtaposing her own love story with the wedding announcements she created, and much more. Cate’s recommended reads are: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Why Peacocks?: An Unlikely Search for Meaning in the World’s Most Magnificent Bird by Sean Flynn Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons Supp...

Genevieve and I discuss her latest book Letters Across the Sea, focusing on Canadian stories that have been long forgotten, where she got the inspiration for this book, the enormous responsibility that historical fiction writers have to teach the mind and touch the heart, and much more.

Genevieve and I discuss her latest book Letters Across the Sea, focusing on Canadian stories that have been long forgotten, where she got the inspiration for this book, the enormous responsibility that historical fiction writers have to teach the mind and touch the heart, and much more. Genevieve’s recommended reads are: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn The Woman with the Blue Star by Pan Jenoff Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce Please nominate this podcast in the Society and Culture category of the ...

Emiko and I discuss her latest book Tokyo Ever After, how drafting this book helped her reconcile her own identity, her writing process and how it has evolved, why it took her a while to write this book, what a privilege it is to blend in, how her stunning cover came about, viewing stories as “windows and mirrors,” and much more.

Emiko and I discuss her latest book Tokyo Ever After, how drafting this book helped her reconcile her own identity, her writing process and how it has evolved, why it took her a while to write this book, what a privilege it is to blend in, how her stunning cover came about, viewing stories as “windows and mirrors,” and much more. Emiko’s recommended reads are: Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong The Ones We’re Meant to Find...

Ayanna and I discuss her new book Blackface, her desire to encourage honest and sustained conversations about race, understanding the history of performing blackness and connecting these performances from Shakespeare to minstrel into one long arc, the need for the full rainbow of stories from black authors, the shocking number of blackface performances occurring in the 21st century, and much more.

Ayanna and I discuss her new book Blackface, her desire to encourage honest and sustained conversations about race, understanding the history of performing blackness and connecting these performances from Shakespeare to minstrel into one long arc, the need for the full rainbow of stories from black authors, the shocking number of blackface performances occurring in the 21st century, and much more. Ayanna’s recommended reads are: Being Property Once Myself: Blackness and the End of Man by Joshu...

Chanel and I discuss her latest book The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, how this is the first time she has written about a real life heroine, the incredible amount of research she conducted for this novel, which book of hers holds a special place in her heart, bringing Cuban stories to life, and much more.

Chanel and I discuss her latest book The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, how this is the first time she has written about a real life heroine, the incredible amount of research she conducted for this novel, which book of hers holds a special place in her heart, bringing Cuban stories to life, and much more. Chanel’s recommended reads are: Island Queen by Vanessa Riley The Riviera House by Natasha Lester Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson Nominate this podcast in the Society and Culture category ...

Katherine and I discuss her new book The Siren, using three points of view to slowly disseminate information to the reader, how she enjoys writing about the messiness of life, taking unexpected life paths, how lives are lived in chapters, and much more.

Katherine and I discuss her new book The Siren, using three points of view to slowly disseminate information to the reader, how she enjoys writing about the messiness of life, taking unexpected life paths, how lives are lived in chapters, and much more. Katherine’s recommended reads are: Life’s Too Short by Abby Jiminez Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam Please nominate this podcast in the Society and Cu...

Georgia and I discuss her new rom-com It Had to Be You, why she switched to the rom-com genre, how her own wedding inspired her to write this story, her fascination with weddings, teasing out a balance between tradition versus modernity, and much more.

Georgia and I discuss her new rom-com It Had to Be You, why she switched to the rom-com genre, how her own wedding inspired her to write this story, her fascination with weddings, teasing out a balance between tradition versus modernity, and much more. Georgia’s recommended reads are: Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam Vampires in the Lemon Grove: Stories by Karen Russell One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne Nomina...

Tovah and I discuss her new book Lilyville, her difficult relationship with her mother and their generational chasm, how she came up with the delightful format of the book, incorporating “Lilysisms” into her story, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro after her mother died, her upcoming show, and much more.

Tovah and I discuss her new book Lilyville, her difficult relationship with her mother and their generational chasm, how she came up with the delightful format of the book, incorporating “Lilysisms” into her story, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro after her mother died, her upcoming show, and much more. Tovah’s recommended reads are: The Watergate Girl by Jill Wine-Banks Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age by Sanjay Gupta, M.D. Stay or Go: Dr. Ruth’s Rules for Real Relationships by Dr. Rut...

Flynn and I discuss her new mystery Northern Spy, how she creates such a strong sense of place, writing about a place where turmoil is always just under the surface, the roots of radicalization, being selected as a Reese Book Club pick, and much more.

Jennifer and I discuss her debut novel Ariadne, putting women from Greek mythology at the center of their stories, the complexity of building a Bronze Age world, ensuring that readers are not pulled out of the story and instead stay immersed in the world she has created, her favorite Greek myths, and much more.