Book Gang

Debut novelist Olivia Muenter joins Book Gang to discuss her hit debut, Such a Bad Influence, and the dark side of online fame in her real and imagined worlds. What happens when your child becomes famous? In Such a Bad Influence , Olivia Muenter pulls back the curtain on the innocent early days of a fictional family's online moment that went viral, to later reveal the insidious nature of the influ...

Author Ashley Jordan joins Book Gang to share her LitUp Fellowship journey to launch her debut, Once Upon a Time in Dollywood, and how fanfiction paved her path. Ashley Jordan, a Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow, joins us this week to share the story behind her sparkling debut Once Upon a Time in Dollywood —a romance that pairs laugh-out-loud humor with deeply emotional storytelling. In this light c...

Author Meagan Church unpacks the hidden lives of women in her chilling novel, The Mad Wife, as we explore the history of hysteria in women's health diagnoses. If you loved Meagan Church’s historical fiction, you’ll be captivated by the bold turn she takes in The Mad Wife , her third novel. Rooted in the untold medical stories of women’s lives, this book lulls readers into the familiar rhythms of m...

Curious about indie publishing? Physician Paria Hassouri shares her debut journey to publish Harvesting Rosewater, centering a woman's midlife awakening. If you’ve ever been interested in the independent publishing process, you’re not alone. Today’s revealing conversation with Paria Hassouri, a pediatrician, whose debut, Harvesting Rosewater , recently hit bookstores, takes readers inside her rema...

In Anyone's Ghost, August Thompson captures the ache of growing up while growing as a writer after his hard-won pursuit of the MFA program at NYU. How do you write a coming-of-age story that's both deeply vulnerable and slyly funny, all while resisting clichés about queerness and masculinity? August Thompson joins me to talk about his debut novel, Anyone's Ghost , a Lambda finalist and one of my f...

In The Sideways Life of Denny Voss , Holly Kennedy brings humor & heart to a neurodivergent hero, sharing how Lake Union Publishing shaped her journey. What happens when good intentions collide with messy realities? In The Sideways Life of Denny Voss, Holly Kennedy introduces us to Denny, an unforgettable, neurodivergent character whose big heart and distinct voice make him a narrator you'll want...

In her dazzling debut novel Aftertaste, Daria Lavelle takes us on a sensory journey where food, grief, & romance intertwine in this inventive ghost story.  What if you could taste the ghosts of the people you've lost? In this intimate conversation, Daria shares how her Ukrainian heritage, her childhood food memories, and her love of genre-bending storytelling all shaped one of the most unique nove...

TikTok creator and pop-cultural sleuth Josh Lora (TellTheBeees) helps us build the ultimate Airport Novels book list to carry you through your next flight. What makes a perfect book to snag in the airport bookstore? In this fun episode, TikTok creator and pop-cultural sleuth Josh Lora (TellTheBeees) helps us create the perfect book list to get you through delayed flights, endless terminals, and je...

Join Cindy from Thoughts from a Page as we explore unforgettable books featuring older characters. These are her top five picks that deserve space on your TBR. The  All‑Star Book Influencer Series  is back, and I can't wait to introduce you to more incredible voices in the literary community. Our guests include podcasters, bookstagrammers, and BookTubers who bring fresh passion and unique perspect...

There is nothing more transformative than midlife stories, and Renee from It's Book Talk & More joins me to explore the books that reshape how we see this stage. The  All‑Star Book Influencer Series  is back, and I can't wait to introduce you to more incredible voices in the literary community. Our guests include podcasters, bookstagrammers, and BookTubers who bring fresh passion and unique perspe...

Dive into a stack of mind‑bending thrillers with Kate from Bookwild. Discover her top 5 speculative fiction picks in today's All-Star Book Influencer series. The All‑Star Book Influencer Series is back, and I can't wait to introduce you to more incredible voices in the literary community. Our guests include podcasters, bookstagrammers, and BookTubers who bring fresh passion and unique perspectives...

Journalist Honor Jones discusses her debut novel, Sleep, which explores the #MeToo movement from childhood to the newsroom through a unique fictional lens. Honor Jones's debut novel, Sleep , opens in the heat of a seemingly idyllic summer childhood, where ten-year-old Margaret navigates unspoken secrets within her home. But as the years unfold, the story quietly traces how early moments of confusi...

Holy plot twist! Loretta Rothschild shares her writing process for her buzzy debut, Finding Grace, where the opening sequence stuns in this spoiler-free chat. In today's Book Gang episode, debut author Loretta Rothschild discusses Finding Grace , a domestic drama that cracks wide open into something far more unexpected. This powerful novel explores fertility, family bonds, and the long echo of gri...

Lidija Hilje shares how her debut novel, Slanting Towards the Sea, and her own journey is shaped by second chances and the courage it required to begin again. Lidija Hilje brings a rare and powerful perspective to her fiction. After a decade working in Croatian courts, she left the legal field to write in English as her second language and to coach other writers through their own stories. We discu...

Zoe Wallbrook shares how her debut mystery, History Lessons, blends academia, amateur sleuthing, and suspense in this clever, twisty campus mystery with heart. In today's special July 4th Book Gang episode, author Zoe B. Wallbrook joins me for a smart and surprising conversation about her dazzling debut, History Lessons . This mystery novel brings the classroom to the crime scene. When a brilliant...

Not knowing the publishing rules helped Austin Taylor sell her debut, Notes on Infinity. From lab notes to spreadsheets, learn her data-driven approach. In today's Book Gang episode, debut author Austin Taylor joins me to discuss her dazzling new novel Notes on Infinity . This high-concept campus novel follows Zoe and Jack, two brilliant students whose late-night collaboration leads to the develop...

Dolen Perkins-Valdez shares the riveting history behind her new book, Happy Land, the research surprises she uncovered, and how urgency drives her storytelling. In today's Book Gang episode, New York Times bestselling author Dolen Perkins-Valdez joins me to discuss Happy Land , a transporting novel inspired by the true story of a lost kingdom built by freed people in the hills of North Carolina. ...

Allegra Goodman tells the surprising origin story of Isola—from a children's book discovery to immersive museum research—all written in complete secrecy. In today's Book Gang episode, celebrated author Allegra Goodman joins me to discuss her stunning survival novel Isola , the incredible true story that inspired it, and the highly unusual creative process behind her most critically acclaimed book...

Milo Todd discusses the research process for his debut, The Lilac People. This sweeping historical fiction novel shares a devastating chapter in trans history.  Debut novelist Milo Todd joins me to discuss his book, The Lilac People , in honor of Pride Month. This heartbreaking historical fiction novel uncovers a devastating chapter in queer and trans history. Milo's novel centers on a group of tr...

Annie Hartnett discusses the inspiration behind her quirky road trip novel The Road to Tender Hearts and why she breaks all the rules in writing her stories.  Annie Hartnett joins me to discuss her latest bestselling novel, The Road to Tender Hearts, and the inspiration behind this road trip story. We explore the heartfelt and humorous moments that showcase a wonderfully quirky found family, which...

In this Jessica Guerrieri interview, we discuss her debut, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, and how 12 years of sobriety shaped this unforgettable tale. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a raw and emotionally resonant debut that examines the insidious nature of alcohol addiction and how it distorts relationships, parenting, and one woman's self-perception. In this conversation, Je...

The NEW 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide includes 56 titles, including upcoming releases, new releases, and backlist gems. Browse 39 pages of bookish fun to prepare for your best summer stack. Welcome to one of my favorite episodes of the year- the official reveal of the 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide ! This year's guide features 56 handpicked titles across every genre to help you find the...

In this Allison Larkin interview, we discuss writing Home of the American Circus and the creative writing routines that have transformed her life with ADHD. This week, I'm talking with my friend and bestselling author Allison Larkin about her latest novel, Home of the American Circus . But this conversation goes far beyond crafting this sprawling family drama. Allison is pulling back the curtain o...

This week, we're diving into a debut thriller that's frothy, funny, and unhinged in the best way. Liann Zhang joins me for a laugh-out-loud conversation about her new novel, Julie Chan Is Dead —a genre-blending con-artist thriller about identical twin sisters whose lives split in dramatically different directions… until one of them winds up dead. When the authorities mistake Julie for her famous s...

Journalist Claire Hoffman unpacks Sister, Sinner, the gripping true crime story of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson’s disappearance and miraculous return. If you've never heard the name, Aimee Semple McPherson, you're not alone—but Claire Hoffman's Sister Sinner will ensure you never forget her name again as America's first mega-preacher. Today, we discuss this riveting biography, which opens wit...