What Ya Reading?

In today's episode, Jay sits down with Bookstagrammer Mysia from BlackGirlBuJos to chat about holiday reading. Tune in to hear them discuss books they are excited to read this holiday season and some of their end-of-year- reading hopes. Mysia also shares her journey to content creation, gives tips on how to connect with book tours, and book suggestions for different types of readers. What we talke...

In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with author J.S. Jasper to discuss her journey from a reader to a published author. They also talk about Jasper's latest novel, Perfectly Candid. Tune in to hear how Jasper approaches the writing process, where she draws inspiration, and what we can expect from her next. What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Guest intro and current reads 1:03 Author jo...

In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with fellow Bookstagrammer Bridget to chat about her thoughts on finding joy in reading. Tune in to hear them discuss how Bridget creates a joyful reading experience and her unique approach to content creation. What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Guest intro and current reads 00:41 The joy of reading 12:09 Reading routines 17:00 Balancing heavy reads...

In today's episode, Jay sits down with fellow content creator Schae Love to chat about romance series and their appreciation for the authors who write them. Tune in to hear them talk about the series that has captivated their hearts and share tips for using rating systems. What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Guest intro and current reads 00:43 Thoughts on popular books 19:57 Changes in rea...

In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with debut author O'Junea Brown. They are chatting about her journey to becoming an author and what inspired her first novel, A Fate of Onyx & Ivory. They also discuss O'Junea's writing process and the joys and challenges of self-publishing. What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Guest intro and current reads 00:44 Author journey 5:21 Dealing with impos...

In today's episode, you'll be listening to a buddy-read discussion on The Color of Law. This book explores the historical laws and policies that enforced racial segregation in America. Tune in to hear Jay and the other book club members chat about their personal experiences with these types of zoning laws, white flight, and gentrification. What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:40 Knowledge and...

In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with fellow Bookstagrammer Bree to chat about exploring the different genres of YA novels. Tune in to hear them discuss their thoughts on representation in this category. They also touch on how best to approach reading YA novels and the books that have left a lasting impression on them. What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Guest intro and current read...

In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with fellow Bookstagramer Aleka from @actbookshelf to talk about the journey of getting back into reading after taking a hiatus. Tune in to hear them discuss the books that reignited Aleka's love of reading and the challenges of finding new authors and genres to explore. They also chat about the inspiration behind her new bookish Instagram account. What we t...

In today's episode Jay is sitting down with fellow Booksagrammer Shonna to chat about the joy of buddy reading. Shonna is an avid reader with the preferred genres of fantasy, romance, and dark academia and participates in several buddy reads monthly. Tune in to hear their thoughts on how buddy reading and getting different perspectives enhances the reader experience. Shonna also gives fantasy book...

In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with fellow Bookstagrammer and dark romance lover, Yaniris. They are chatting about reading romance books with dark and spicy themes. Tune in to hear them talk about how to identify potentially triggering content and books they suggest for all types of readers. Due to the subject matter, this episode is intended for mature audiences (18+). The subjects, book...

In today's episode, you'll be listening to a buddy-read discussion on Ana Maria and the Fox by Liana De La Rosa. Tune in to hear Jay and the other book club members chat about their thoughts on this book, what they learned, and the impression it left on them. Please keep in mind that this episode will contain spoilers. What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Reading Historical Romance 2:04 The...

In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with author Tony Weaver Jr. to talk about his new graphic novel, Weirdo, which tackles bullying and mental health themes. Tune in to hear them chat about Tony's journey to becoming an author and the inspiration behind Weirdo. They also discuss Tony's writing process, the importance of representation in literature, and the impact of storytelling for young rea...

The podcast is back! After a few weeks off, we're back and excited to bring you new episodes every Monday. In today's episode, Jay is chatting with her sister Janette to do a mid-year check-in on their reading goals. Tune in to hear them discuss the books they've loved and what they hope their reading life will look like for the remainder of the year. What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Gu...

It's time for our summer podcast break. Don't fear, new epsides will resume in a few weeks. Today, Jay also shares a quick and exciting announcement with you so make sure you listen to full audio clip. Wishing everyone a wonderful reading adventure until we meet again! Links mentioned in this episode: Send Jay podcast suggestions via email ( info@jaybraggs.com ) Send Jay podcast suggestions on Ins...

In today's episode, Jay is joined by her book bestie Brittany to discuss their shared love of reading celebrity books and memoirs. Tune in to hear them chat about what elements they look for in these stories and how they go about rating and recommending them.  What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Guest intro and current reads 2:06 Reading Celebrity Memoirs 11:27 Should we always expect dram...

In today's episode, Jay is chatting with fellow Bookstagrammer Tori from @readnoted . They're talking about the inspiration behind Tori's monthly themed TBR (to be read) list, how she selects books to focus on, and her self-proclaimed title as a Literary Hype Girl. They also discuss the intention behind Tori's monthly newsletter, which includes reading recommendations and book-themed playlists. Wh...

In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with fellow Bookstagrammer Bri from @briisbooked to chat about reading books that evoke strong emotions. Tune in to listen to them chat about the books that have given them a range of emotions and how those emotions enhance their reading experience. What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Guest intro and current reads 1:18 Exploring new genres 5:06 Books...

Happy Pride Month! In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with fellow Bookstagrammer Ann Marie to talk about LGBTQ+ books, representation, and reading diverse stories. Tune in to hear them chat about Ann Marie's favorite books, authors, and her passion for highlighting these stories on her platform. What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Guest intro and current reads 1:47 Books that Ann Mari...

If you are a lover of romance, or looking to read more from the genre, then this episode is for you. Today Jay is sitting down with fellow Bookstagrammer Niah to chat about their shared love of romance books. Tune in to hear them discuss what attracted them to the genre, their favorite books, and what authors they can't get enough of! What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Guest intro and cur...

In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with fellow Bookstagrammer Bianca to chat about exploring new and indie authors. Tune in to hear how Bianca has discovered new favorite books and her passion for sharing works from indie authors.   What we talked about :  Episode intro 00:00 Guest intro and current reads 1:59 Our reading taste 8:51 Exploring the library 15:58 Exploring different types of aut...

Around here we like thick books (books over 500 pages). But if you aren't used to reading books of that size, they can be a little intimidating. In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with Bookstagrammer Stephany to chat about reading books with large page counts. Tune in to hear them talk about why they love thick books, how they approach reading them, and books they'd suggest picking up. Also -...

In today's episode, Jay is joined by fellow Bookstagrammer Amber and they're chatting about the joy of collecting special edition books. Tune in to learn how Amber started building her collection and tips on how you can start adding copies of your favorite books to your personal library. Also - There is an exciting announcement coming soon. Be sure to join the email list to be the first to hear th...

In today's episode, you'll be listening to a buddy-read discussion on Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall. This book addresses the blind spots within the feminist movement. Tune in to hear Jay and the other book club members chat about their thoughts on this book, what they learned, and the impression it left on them. What we talked about :  Intro 00:00  First impressions of the book 1:31 Our thoughts...

Do you ever feel like you're on a never-ending quest for the perfect read? And that "popular" books don't always live up to the hype? We know that feeling all too well. Today Jay is sitting down with fellow Bookstagrammer Kina to talk about how to discover your unique reading taste. Tune in to hear them discuss their reading preferences and share tips to help you find new books that you'll love. W...

This week on What Ya Reading? we're jumping into the exciting and sometimes tense world of Black horror and thriller novels. Jay sat down fellow Bookstagrammer Chanel to chat about some of the books they've been loving in this genre. They also chat about what attracts them to the horror and thriller genre and the elements they look for when picking up these books. What we talked about :  About tod...