Book Squad Goals

Ayla Zuraw-Frieldand joins the squad to discuss Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen. The team takes it back to the 1600s to talk about ageism, humor, and history in this quirky standout 2021 novel. Next time, we’ll discuss our favorite things of 2021 and exchange presents. On our next bookpisode, we’ll discuss My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones. TOC :30–Welcome, Ayla...

We’re journeying back through 2000s pop culture to discuss all the best gay stuff! Join us for our chat about Grace Perry’s essay collection The 2000s Made Me Gay. We talk about the personal aspects of the collection, Harry Potter, Taylor Swift, Buffy, Mean Girls, The Real World, and of course, anxiety. Tune in on December 27th for our next Bookpisode on Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch by Ri...

Come along to the (not as cozy as you’d think) English countryside for our discussion of "Unsettled Ground" by Claire Fuller. We talk about the setting, the writing style, the sibling relationship at the heart of the novel, the twist(s), and whether this book is sadness porn. Read along with us for our upcoming Othersode on December 13th as we shift gears into nonfiction with the essay collection...

Gather your gal pals for a listening party as author Gabriella Saab joins the squad for a chat about some of our favorite female friendships in pop culture! From the Spice Girls to the ladies of SATC, we’ve got all our besties covered. After we share our heavily 90s-influenced picks, we talk with Gabriella about her new historical fiction novel “The Last Checkmate,” which is out now and has alread...

You’ve heard of a love triangle, but what about a parenthood triangle? Join the Book Squad for our discussion of Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters. We talk about the complicated relationships between the characters, the connection between trans women and divorced cis women, and why people on Goodreads found this book “shocking.” After that, Kelli interviews SJ Sindu, author of the new novel Blue...

Microdose your smoothie and come along for a peaceful journey through the Hulu series "Nine Perfect Strangers," based on the novel by Liane Moriarty. Returning guest Tirzah Price (author of "Pride and Premeditation") joins us for a wild discussion of how this TV adaptation holds up, what’s missing from the book, what the show is saying about body image, grief, and drugs, and, of course, Manny Jaci...

Come into the woods with the Book Squad and special guest Leah Rachel von Essen to discuss Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon. We talk about the book’s pacing, Vern’s characterization, gender identity and sexuality, the mistreatment of Black people by white America, and of course, mushrooms. Next, Emily interviews Catriona Ward, author of the novel The Last House on Needless Street. You don’t want to mi...

Grady Hendrix returns to the podcast to talk about the Scream franchise and his new novel, The Final Girl Support Group! We talk about our favorite final girls (and how Sidney stacks up), how Scream revolutionized the slasher genre in the 1990s, how the sequels compare to each other, and why Gale’s hair goes rogue in 2 and 3. Plus, Grady shares a SUPER FUN FACT about Scream 2 that blows all of our...

Call up your Artificial Friend—it’s time to talk about "Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro. Special guest “Wizzy” of @sailormoonwisdom joins us to discuss the meaning of Klara’s relationship with the sun, why “simple” doesn’t mean “not complex,” whether or not humans are special, and Rick and Josie’s love for one another. Then we catch up with what’s on the blog, including more book, podcast, an...

Come back to medieval times with us as we welcome Mac and Zoe from The Maniculum, a podcast featuring some of the strangest, most absurd, and befuddling examples of medieval writing. The co-hosts of The Maniculum help us uncover some of the secrets of A24’s latest film The Green Knight, which stars Dev Patel and Alicia Vikander. From our favorite Arthurian heroes to the moody atmosphere of David L...

Surf’s up, listeners! Join us for one hell of a party as we discuss "Malibu Rising" by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Special guest RJ Sorrento joins us to talk about the structure of the story, the characters and their motivations, TJR’s writing style, and—you guessed it—a little bit of "Weekend at Bernies." After the party ends, stick around for Mary’s interview with Kristen Radtke, author of "Seek You: A...

It’s time to work till you drop! Just kidding, we’re not about that life. But we are all about discussing the new documentary "WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn." We are joined by special guest “Nicole,” who has some real-life experience with WeWork, to talk about hustle culture, cult-like workplaces, toxic positivity, and the many things that went wrong with WeWork. Next...

Jump into the Jazz Age as the Book Squad discusses "The Chosen and the Beautiful" by Nghi Vo, a queer, magical retelling of "The Great Gatsby." We tread new and old territory as we talk about perspective, race, sexuality, magic, and both books’ messages. Next, Kelli hosts a delightful interview with Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman, authors of "The Very Nice Box." Don’t miss our next very special...

Back by popular demand! Hit the streets of Tokyo with the Squad (plus Todd) for the third installment of Book Squad Games. We finally got to inhabit our true supernatural forms as we played Urban Shadows from Magpie Games! Join us on an adventure to save the supernatural beings of Tokyo from a mysterious hunter. Tune in on July 12th for our next Bookpisode about the queer, magical Gatsby retelling...

Join us on our spaceship for our discussion of "Earthlings" by Sayaka Murata. We talk about the various pressures women face, society as a monster, the strange and complicated characters, body hair, and that wild ending. Next we get into some listener feedback on "Ready Player Two" and "Make Up Break Up," and then we catch up with what’s on the blog! Tune in on June 28th for our third installment...

Put on your haptic feedback suit and jump into the OASIS with us as we discuss Ernest Cline’s Ready Player Two. This is a hate-pisode, and we all knew we’d have mixed feelings going in, but have no fear. The squad is here to detail all of the negative aspects of Ready Player Two, including its trouble with being a sequel, problematic gender representation, and indistinguishable characters. Can Wad...

This week, we’re off to South Korea to discuss "Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982" by Cho Nam-Joo (translated by Jamie Chang), a book that helped spark a women’s rights movement when it was first published in 2016. The Squad talks about the controversy surrounding the book and gets into some of our shared experiences of misogyny and sexism in America. After that, Emily interviews Ethel Rohan, author of the n...

Light some candles and gather ‘round the pentagram, because things are getting satanic (panic!) on this episode. Author Clay McLeod Chapman joins us to talk about the 2009 film House of the Devil. We talk about the cultural context of the early 1980s, Greta Gerwig’s pizza performance, and the anxiety-making pacing of the film. Tangents include Cabbage Patch dolls and the forbidden television of ou...

Join the Squad and special guest Tirzah Price to chat about "Make Up Break Up," the first novel for adults by Lily Menon! We discuss the romance, the characters, and of course, the fancy apps the love interests each created. Next we talk to Tirzah about her debut YA novel, "Pride and Premeditation." She tells us about the inspiration for the series, the writing process, and what to look for in upc...

Things get culty in this BSG #Othersode! Join us for our discussion of "The Project" by Courtney Summers and a special author interview with Sarah Edmondson (HBO’s "The Vow") about her book, "Scarred: The True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult that Bound My Life." Read along with us for our next #Bookpisode on Lily Menon’s novel "Make Up Break Up," featuring special guest Tirzah Price, author...

The Book Squad is off to Brooklyn for a mysterious tale of gentrification and intrigue: When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole! We discuss the book’s thrill factor, the romance, gentrification and racism, and how fiction functions as anti-racist reading. Next we dig into some listener feedback on Transcendent Kingdom and catch up with what’s on the blog, including a list of culty books, a review o...

Pack up your vans and join us for a discussion of the Golden Globe-winning film Nomadland. We talk about Fern (Frances McDormand), grief, capitalism, and the integration of real-life stories in the movie. Then, Emily interviews author Nicole Glover about her debut novel The Conductors, a genre-mixing story of history, mystery, and magic. No spoilers here, so you can listen even if you haven’t read...

Get your tissues ready. In this episode, the Squad discusses Yaa Gyasi's novel Transcendent Kingdom. Join us as we chat about mental health, depression, addiction, grief, racism, religion, and, yes, we do cry it out a little bit. You're welcome to join the trust circle and cry along with us. We're all friends here. Don't forget to join us for our next Othersode where we'll be talking about the fil...

It’s our 100th episode! Our hundredpisode! Our hundo-sode! Join us as we look back on our favorite books, movies and TV shows we’ve covered—as well as our least favorite things (because we do love to hate on stuff from time to time). We also listen to a few clips of our favorite moments and memories from the past four years and read some listener feedback about their favorite show topics. As alway...

For our FIFTIETH #Bookpisode, the Book Squad discusses "Luster," the debut novel by Raven Leilani. We talk about the Millennial and Gen Z hallmarks of the novel, the bizarre predicament Edie finds herself in, the issue of “likeability” in Black characters, and the overall writing and narration style. Next we catch up with what’s on the #BookSquadBlog: Bachelor recaps, movie and video game reviews,...