Book Squad Goals

Things get downright demonic as the #BookSquad is joined by Mary Kay McBrayer (author and co-host of Everything Trying to Kill You podcast) to talk about Grady Hendrix’s novel My Best Friend’s Exorcism. We talk about rad 80s nostalgia, feminism, religion, class, tropes of possession narratives, and -- most importantly -- friendship! Catch up with us on the #BookSquadBlog with recaps, television an...

Are you ready to change your life? Join the #BookSquad and special guest Tirzah Price (BookRiot) at Tranquillum House for our discussion of 'Nine Perfect Strangers' by Liane Moriarty. We talk about character development, body image, the “wellness” trend, and most importantly, whether Doritos are good. Head to the #BookSquadBlog for more content, including 'Survivor' recaps, a roundup of fall poems...

It’s time to get spooky with the #BookSquad and special guests Lisa Kröger and Melanie Anderson, authors of "Monster, She Wrote" (just out from Quirk!!) and hosts of the Know Fear Cast! Join us as we discuss the Shirley Jackson classic "We Have Always Lived in the Castle." We talk about what makes the book frightening, sympathetic magic and rituals, why we love ghosts, and how Shirley Jackson fits...

Grab your earbuds before they disappear and listen to our discussion of The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa. We talk about the setting, character development, memory and loss, and why this novel feels so timely even though it was originally published in 1994. Then we dig into some listener feedback for our Circe episode and tell you what’s on the #BookSquadBlog. Read along with us for our next #others...

Go missing with the #BookSquad as we discuss the new movie Where’d You Go Bernadette?, based on the novel by Maria Semple. We talk about how the epistolary form translates on screen, the depiction of a few female characters, and the thing everyone is wondering: What is Bernadette’s deal anyway? In the second half of this #othersode, Emily interviews Kate Davies, author of the new novel In at the D...

Get exiled with the #BookSquad to the deserted island of Aeaea as we discuss Madeline Miller’s second novel, "Circe." We talk about our favorite myths, whether this novel is feminist, what’s so great about mortals, witchy witchcraft, and more. We also get into some listener feedback for "The Mars Room" and hear about Emily’s featured bookstore, Star Line Books in Chattanooga. Head to the #BookSqua...

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the #BookSquad meets todaaaaay! Get your singing voices ready for our discussion of the new "Lion King" remake. Special guest Said joins us to talk about the visual effects, standout (and not-so-standout) performances, our favorite songs, and storytelling in the Pridelands. Plus we get into some listener feedback on our "Black Mirror" #othersode and talk about wha...

Things get romantic this week on #BookSquadGoals as we discuss "Evvie Drake Starts Over," the debut novel by Linda Holmes. Special guest Liberty Hardy joins us to talk about pop culture in books, the romance genre, themes of grief and guilt, and of course, our favorite rom-coms. Then we read some listener feedback on "The Mars Room" and "Fruit of the Drunken Tree" and tell you all about the awesom...

If this podcast was a "Black Mirror" episode, the #BookSquad would take over your brain and control your motor functions and force you to subscribe to our podcast...alas, this is just a regular BSG episode, but it’s about "Black Mirror" - Season 5. We dig into this three-episode season and discuss themes of gender, sexuality, teenage girldom, and more. We also talk about the best and worst episode...

Grab an orange jumpsuit and cuff your ankles together because the #BookSquad is heading to prison this week for our discussion of Rachel Kushner’s novel The Mars Room. We talk about characterization, how this relates to other prison-based media, and what this book is or isn’t trying to say about the justice system. We also read lots of listener feedback on An Absolutely Remarkable thing. (Thanks,...

This week, instead of traveling to the fictional locale of a novel, we’re going to New Orleans IN REAL LIFE. That’s right, the #BookSquad got together for real and spent a weekend trying food and drink, looking for lost cars, taking high-quality model photos, singing karaoke and basking in the sweet warmth of togetherness. Follow us on our trip where we did not actually see Ariana Grande, but we d...

Where were you when the Carls appeared? Join the #Squad for a discussion of Hank Green’s debut novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. We talk about the book’s unique angle on its themes, voice and characterization, and what the heck new adult lit is. Plus we read some listener feedback on the Gunners and get into what’s on the #BookSquadBlog right now (lots of TV recaps!). Look out for our next #o...

Grab a drink because you’re gonna need it. It’s time for our second #Hatepisode, featuring "A Stranger in the House" by Shari Lapena. We discuss the bonkers plot, the cardboard characters, and the oh-my-goodness-it’s-so-bad writing. Then we dig into some reviews so you don’t just take our word for it. Everything gets way better after that because it’s also our second BIRTHDAYSODE! Listen as we exc...

Things get magically weird this week as the #BookSquad discusses ‘Gingerbread’ by Helen Oyeyemi. We discuss childhood and nostalgia, friendship and family relationships, and what the heck is actually happening plot-wise. Plus, we talk about some of our own family recipes and get into 'Pet Sematary' feedback. Head over to the #BookSquadBlog for more content, including TV recaps, book reviews and ot...

Get unburied with the #BookSquad (and special guest Charlie, Emily’s dad!) as we come back from the dead to talk about the new 2019 film adaptation of Stephen King’s “Pet Sematary.” We discuss grief, death and the big changes between the book (and the 1989 film) and the new movie. Plus, you get to learn a little about our childhood pets! Then we dig into some Captain Marvel listener feedback and t...

The #BookSquad takes a shady trip to 1990s Colombia this week as we discuss "Fruit of the Drunken Tree" by Ingrid Rojas Contreras. We talk about the historical fiction genre, trauma and violence, womanhood, and the relationship between the book's two protagonists, Chula and Petrona. Plus, we talk more about "Captain Marvel" and get Susan’s thoughts on how awesome the movie is. There’s plenty of gr...

The #BookSquad crash lands on planet C-53, aka Earth in the mid-90s, to talk about "Captain Marvel," the newest origin story movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We discuss where this movie fits in the MCU, how it works as trauma narrative, the film's feminist themes, how it compares to other superhero origin stories, and — of course — Goose the cat! Plus, we give you a rundown of what's on the...

Feel like a townie with us as we go to Lackawanna, NY for a strange reunion of a group of childhood friends in Rebecca Kauffman’s novel, The Gunners. We talk about revealing secrets, character development, the problems with Mikey, and whether people can really change. Plus, we tell you all the goodies currently on the #BookSquadBlog. Go see Captain Marvel, and join us for our next #Othersode on 3/...

Things get downright whimsical this week as the #BookSquad plays Magical Fury with special guest Todd! Join Becky, Kitty, Heather and Hook at North Bay High School as they encounter a ~strange happening~ and transform into magical girls to battle with some unsavory creatures. We'll let you decide who has the coolest magical girl powers after you listen. After the magic dust settles, we cover what'...

What if women all across the world were suddenly given the power of electricity? The Book Squad entertains this question and so many more as they dive into Naomi Alderman’s speculative alternate history novel “The Power.” Get ready, because we’re going to talk about race, we’re going to talk about gender, and we’re going to talk about erections. You don’t want to miss out on this. Plus, we get int...

Come with the #BookSquad on a not-so-luxurious European vacation to 1950s postwar Naples, Italy to discuss the HBO series My Brilliant Friend. We talk female friendship (and frenemy-ship), toxic masculinity, and the show’s (forgive us) brilliant choices in setting, design, and photography. And of course, we answer the most important question: F*ck, Marry, Kill: Stefano, Nino, and Marcello? Yes, we...

Finish 2018 the right way: with the story of a powerful friendship and #squadgoals. In our final episode of the year, the Squad discusses "Girls Burn Brighter" by Shobha Rao. We talk about the novel’s themes, including grief, light/dark, and hope, as well as Rao’s writing style. We get into what shapes and drives the two main characters, and of course, we discuss the harrowing (seriously, it’s rea...

It's time for our second annual End-of-the-Year celebration here at the Book Squad Goals clubhouse. Grab a hot cuppa tea and/or a tall glass of wine and party with us as we go through our favorite things of 2018. And then... we open presents! Sorry, we didn't get you anything. This is awkward. Please don't forget to rate, review, subscribe and come back for our final episode of the year when we'll...

Come with us to the idyllic community of Shaker Heights, Ohio for our discussion of "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng. We discuss whether the novel is character- or plot-driven, which characters were most effective, why the book is set in the 1990s, and more (like which of us were bitchy teenagers). Plus, we read some listener feedback on "Goodbye, Vitamin," and Emily tells us about MyTBR, w...

Join the #BookSquad — er, #BookCoven — for a not-so-scary look at the new "Suspiria," directed by Luca Guadagnino. We talk about what worked and what didn't work (but mostly what didn't work) in this re-imagining of the 1977 film. Is the dancing good? Why is Tilda Swinton playing so many characters? And most importantly, what would "Suspiria" sound like as a Rihanna song? We answer all this and mo...