Judging Book Covers

After a long delay, we have a LONG EPISODE! Stephanie and Meghan read Scott Sigler's  Mount Fitzroy,  the sequel to  Earthcore , which we read and loved a few years ago!!  While this book is only out in audiobook, it is 30 hours long!! Which means heads up: this episode is LONG. And we do talk spoilers. So this is your fourth warning that we do discuss spoilers!  Judging Book Covers Podcast stands...

For Stephanie's birthday, we decided to read an advance copy of the newly released  How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole! Because this podcast stans Alyssa Cole almost more than anyone else?! This is a new spin off of her Reluctant Royals series, and there are so many characters that pop up! We also talk about how great it is that Cole can blend social commentary into a romance novel in ways that a...

This week Stephanie and Meg read  Memorial  by Bryan Washington! This book has recently been released, so there is a bit of a spoiler warning. But don't worry - we break it out into a non-spoilery and then spoilery conversation. This book addresses relationships in a hard light, both romantic and family. Lots to unpack here!  Content warnings: Parental (Father) death, cancer, abuse, tough family r...

This week Meghan and Stephanie read  How to be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi! This book discusses challenging your way of thinking so that you are continuously getting better and better. It discusses the different kinds of racism, and how we can achieve becoming antiracist.  This episode was recorded prior to the election, and while we try to not let our feelings out, it is definitely a tense discu...

This week we are joined by Case Aiken to discuss  The Banks by Roaxane Gay, Ming Doyle, and Jordie Bellaire! We chat about what we like and wish we could change of this comic about a matriarchal line of thieves! What would happen in your life to get you to join up with the thieves in your family? And how does one steal bitcoin??  Judging Book Covers Podcast stands with the Black Lives Matter movem...

This week Stephanie and Meghan set out to read a horror book by an author they like  -  Nos4A2  by Joe Hill! Unfortunately, perhaps due to the environment of 2020, they found themselves unable to actually finish the book. This is an episode to discuss why we occasionally DNF (do not finish) a book, and why you can choose to DNF a book and still have respect for the author. We handle the topic with...

This week's episode is a little late because we wanted to drop it during Banned Book week! So happy Banned Book Week! Please go read some books that have been challenged or banned, particularly if you can find one you haven't read before, or who doesn't have a terribly horrible TERF-y author!  This week we did just that, as we invited on Frankie (MJ) Bradley-Lestrange to talk about  Alanna, The Fi...

JBC is back from hiatus and ready to read!  But FIRST: We joined a network! Thank you to Certain POV Network for inviting us to be a part of your amazing group. Please go check out the website and find all the amazing podcasts you can listen to!  This week we broke our rules a little because one of our favorite authors, Alyssa Cole, has released a new thrilled called  When No One is Watching . We...

This week Stephanie and Meghan read  The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae! As she is close in age to us, we had fun discussing our own relationship with some of the topics she discusses!  Please note, JBC will be on hiatus for about a month. We will see you in mid-August!  We also close with a discussion of bookstores to support, since libraries are still (mostly) closed. Judging Bo...

In this episode, Stephanie and Meghan read  This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kacen Callender! This book has a great realistic teenage love story, and never once feels like a book trying to make a statement, which makes us love it more! We discuss a little bit of our outlooks from when we were teenagers, as well as how we can still get advice from a sixteen year old boy.  We also close with a...

This week Stephanie and Meghan are joined again by Ollie Brady to discuss R L Stine's Fear Street: The First Evil ! We discuss the books of our childhood, particularly focusing on the horror books that shaped our reading styles. We also dive into some of the book drama going on in the world, so this episode is a little heavier than we expected.  We also close with a discussion of bookstores to sup...

This week Stephanie and Meghan read  Lot:Stories  by Bryan Washington! This is a short story collection that is well done and powerfully important.  We also close with a discussion of bookstores to support, since libraries are still closed. Judging Book Covers Podcast stands with the Black Lives Matter movement, and if you are looking for black owned bookshops, please check out these links:  50 in...

This week Stephanie and Meghan are joined by Victoria Lucia! Victoria brought us  The Magicians by Lev Grossman, the book one of her favorite shows is based on! Spoiler: the tv show is definitely better than the book!  Find us on the web: Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Facebook Group  |  Instagram  | Email:  judgingcoverspodcast@gmail.com Find our hosts: Meghan's Twitter  |  Stephanie's Instagram and gu...

This week Stephanie and Meghan get all up in some heists while reading  Death Prefers Blondes  by Caleb Rohrig! We also spend a good portion of the episode discussing food and cooking and all the cooking shows that go with that! Next up: A book with a Blue cover!   Find us on the web: Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Facebook Group  |  Instagram  | Email:  judgingcoverspodcast@gmail.com Find our hosts: Me...

Happy anniversary to JBC! And as always to celebrate, we invited Tim Lowe to come back and read another book with us. Tim picked the  Veronica Mars novel  The Thousand Dollar Tan Line . We do have spoilers for the first three seasons and  Veronica Mars movie, but no spoilers for season 4!  Next Up: A book given to us for free! Find us on the web: Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Facebook Group  |  Instagr...

Our favorite Ollie Brady joins us to talk about Terry Pratchett's  Reaper Man ! We are also in severe cabin fever isolation mode, so there is a lot of chatter about what we are watching and recommend if you need recommendations!  Book Drink:  Mint Julep Next Up: A Novelization of a podcast/tv show with Tim Lowe!  Find us on the web: Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Facebook Group  |  Instagram  | Email: ...

COVID has caused us to get a little stir crazy, so this episode is a little all over the place, even after it has been edited down. And there is no excuse for it being a week late, other than  Love is Blind . Which probably goes well with us reading  Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel!  Book Drink:  Red Wine (for  Love Is Blind , honestly.)  Or hot chocolate for the book (we didn't actuall...

JBC is back and has invited Dr. Sarah Ifft Decker of Media-eval Podcast back on to discuss some 14th Century court cases! Specifically, we read  A Poisoned Past: The Life and Time of Margarida de Portu, a 14th Century Accused Poisoner by Steven Bednarski! Come listen to us discuss how you might think you have the worst brother-in-law, but Margarida has you beat!  Book Drink:  A Good Red Wine (with...

JBC is back and maybe forgot to post an episode this week! It's because we have been too busy SWOOOONING over Beverly Jenkins' novel  Destiny Captive ! Join us as we go back in time to the 1880s and become pirates in Cuba.  Book Drink:  TEQUILA  Next Up: A Book about a Historical Event Find us on the web: Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Facebook Group  |  Instagram  | Email:  judgingcoverspodcast@gmail.c...

Judging Book Covers Podcast is BACK! We kicked off the 2020 JBC Challenge with  The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin! And it was totally a hit and worth it -- February has some great releases!  Book Drink:  Sprite and SKYY vodka Next Up: A Romance Novel Find us on the web: Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Facebook Group  |  Instagram  | Email:  judgingcoverspodcast@gmail.com Find our hosts: Meghan'...

To close down 2019, Stephanie and Meghan talk about their top 12 books for the year! It is a quick episode, and we promise to be back and wordy and with more guests in 2020!!  Heres a breakdown of our lists: Stephanie A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole Pines by Blake Crouch Howl’s Movie Castle by Diane Wynne Jones  The Moors by Jen Silverman Locke and Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez   Saga...

Today we celebrate Stephanie's birthday! Friend of the podcast Tim Lowe presented us with a book,  Contact  by Carl Sagan, as a 1985 Bestseller gift!  .....Can we return it?  Next Up: Our hosts's top 5 2019 Reads Find us on the web: Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Facebook Group  |  Instagram  | Email:  judgingcoverspodcast@gmail.com Find our hosts: Meghan's Twitter  |  Stephanie's Instagram and guest:  ...

Sorry this episode is so late! Medical, travel, and computer issues...it's been a messy week. BUT it's okay, as we are joined by Alex LaVelle from Paneolology to discuss the play  The Moors by Jen Silverman! This drama is a wonderful tongue in cheek look at Victorian gothic literature and the terrifying moors they tend to be staged on. Next Episode: A bestseller from 1895 Find us on the web: Twitt...

This week Stephanie and Meghan chat about H. H. Holmes and the World Fair! But really we talk a lot about how everyone keeps talking about how charismatic and wonderful Holmes was and how gross that is.  Next Episode: A drama Find us on the web: Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Facebook Group  |  Instagram  | Email:  judgingcoverspodcast@gmail.com Find our hosts: Meghan's Blog  |  Stephanie's Instagram

Note: There are some  The Good Place spoilers from minute 15-18.  This week Stephanie and Meghan read  Yes Please  by Amy Poehler! We discuss her openness about her career, her ability to keep the private stuff private, and some of the things that haven't quite aged well.  Also, we definitely have an interesting "book drink!"  Next Episode: A true crime book Find us on the web: Twitter  |  Faceboo...