Shoulda Books

Sarah Bonsignore joins the pod to discuss airport mystery authors, zipless f*cks, the magic of bugs, and more.   Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petesybon/?hl=en   Follow Sarah on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@petesybon   for early, ad-free, extended episodes, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks books discussed below. these are affi...

We finish out Modern Spring (in the middle of summer) with Min Jin Lee's Pachinko . There's a lot to love about this book…but is it really worth reading?   for early, ad-free, extended episodes, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   books discussed below. these are affiliate links for bookshop.org. by purchasing books through these links, you support loca...

Kirsten King, author of the deliciously unhinged novel "A Good Person", stops by to discuss Eve Babitz, John Waters, and prepping for the apocalypse.   For the extended, ad-free version where Kirsten reminisces on the golden (and I do mean golden) days of BuzzFeed, subscribe to the Shoulda Books Patreon or purchase the episode for $3 here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks Follow Kirsten on...

Ryan W. Garcia (Try Guys, Big Nate , Krapopolis ) graciously allows me to record in the lovely studio for his podcast Big Theatre Kid Energy. We discuss leveling up, reading the signs of the universe, and protecting your voice when you're out there in the podcast mines.   Follow Ryan on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muchosgarcias/?hl=en   Follow Big Theatre Kid Energy: https://www.instagram...

Zachary Donohue is the co-writer of the horror film Passenger, in theaters now. He shares 3 books that shaped him and his career, even though none of them are technically horror books.   Check out the ad-free, extended episode–where we discuss Stephen King a bit more–over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   Follow Zachary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donohuezach/   Go...

Khaled Hosseini's debut novel The Kite Runner has sold over 10 million copies since its publication in 2003. What made it achieve such a stratospheric level of popularity? Is the story just that good? Or is there something else at play?   Review by Harvey Thompson https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2008/03/kite-m25.html   for the ad-free version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon...

Rainie Toll explains why "The Giver" and "The Catcher in the Rye" are more similar than you might think. We also talk about mushrooms, OCD, John Green, and why it's okay to not finish a book.   On the Patreon version of this episode, we talk about life since we both got laid off. Sign up today, or purchase the episode for $3, at  https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   books discussed below. the...

Jimmy Wong (Game Knights, the Command Zone, Try Guys, Video Game High School) shares the 3 books he thinks you should read. We end up discussing how he surprised himself with his own paternal instincts, won a jet ski on the Price Is Right, redefines God as he gets older, and much more.   follow Jimmy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jfwong/?hl=en   check out Game Knights: https://www.youtub...

Enjoy this bonus episode from the Shoulda Books Patreon. Every month, we compare a film to the book it was adapted from. Sign up today to unlock more episodes like this.   My grandmother passed away this past weekend, so I've been taking a step back this week to focus on spending time with my family. I'll be back next week with a classic episode. Thank you very much for all of the kind wishes, eve...

Annie Rauwerda, the mind behind one of my favorite Instagram accounts (Depths of Wikipedia, go check it out) joins me to share way more than 3 books you should also check out. We talk Robert Moses, literary gossip from the 1920s, cartoons, the internet, and the recent passing of a bottle of amaro.   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://w...

I unpack Kazuo Ishiguro's 2005 classic "Never Let Me Go".   I dive into some of the questions that philosophers have asked for millennia, vent some of my frustrations with the characters, and take a peek at a very specific branch of science you don't hear much about today.   sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks join the Shoulda Book Club on Fable: https://...

Stephen LaConte is the managing editor of Clickhole and the author of the advice column Stephen, Please. He's also the boyfriend of hyper-realistic cake creator Jonny Cakes, who refers to him (respectfully) as Cake Twink. Stephen shares 2 memoirs and a play that will make you laugh, cry, and question whether children should ever be actors.   sign up for Stephen's advice column: https://stephen.sub...

Sam Bakas (editor, The Try Guys) returns to discuss 3 books that helped him find meaning in a cold, indifferent universe.   follow Sam on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShmoopy follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshmoopy/ for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks books discussed below. t...

The Left Behind series traumatized me as a tween, and I know I'm not the only one. Join me for a loose, rambling episode exploring this cursed series and how it shaped the American Evangelical mind and, consequently, maybe even current US foreign policy?   NOTE: I recorded this episode on the afternoon of April 7th, 2026, before the temporary ceasefire was announced   Guardian article: https://www...

Merle Shane O'Neal shares 2 books that mean a great deal to me, and one that I know absolutely nothing about. So it goes.   follow Merle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merleeshay/   follow Merle on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MerleONeal   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   books discusse...

this week, we're rumbling through S.E. Hinton's 1967 classic The Outsiders , the book that apparently taught the publishing industry that teenagers read books   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   books discussed below. these are affiliate links for bookshop.org. by purchasing books through these links,...

Ash Perez discusses 3 books that bring together comedy and heartbreak, and that balance nostalgia with hope for the future.   pre-order Ash's delightful new rom-com audiobook "Speak Now" (available March 31, 2026)  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Speak-Now/Ash-Perez/9781668117927?utm_campaign=speak-now_ash-perez_audio&utm_content=audio_buy_link&utm_medium=audio_author_outlet&utm_source=auth...

Author Andrew Martin shares the three books he thinks everyone should read. His fantastic new novel Down Time is available everywhere now, via Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.   follow Andrew on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewhmartin85/?hl=en   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   books discussed...

Scott Broker, whose excellent new novel The Disappointment is out now, stops by to talk James Baldwin, Greek myths, desire, grief, and more.    check out Scott's website: https://www.scottjbroker.com/ follow Scott on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottjbroker/?hl=en   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/Shoulda...

The inimitable Jonny Cakes talks about 3 books and whatnot, sure, but MOST IMPORTANTLY he reads his diary from a Walden-style English class/camp. And, honestly, the Beautiful Dining Room Studio has never been so blessed.   follow Jonny on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thejonnycakes follow Jonny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejonnycakes/?hl=en follow Jonny on TikTok: https://www.tik...

I hold down the fort on my lonesome this month to talk through a classic that I ended up enjoying much more than I thought I would. JUSTICE FOR BERTHA.   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   article about machine learning I mentioned: https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ai-revives-physiognomy...

Emilie Friedlander (writer and co-host of The Culture Journalist podcast) shares 3 books that shaped her thinking on music, culture, and, well, THINKING itself.   find Emilie's work here: https://www.emilie-friedlander.com/   follow Emilie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emiliefriedlander/?hl=en   check out The Culture Journalist podcast: https://theculturejournalist.substack.com/   Emilie...

Will Witwer shares 3 books that have me questioning just what HE means when he says a book is "fun"   follow Will on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwitwer/?hl=en   for the ad-free, extended version of this episode (and lots more), sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks   books discussed below. these are affiliate links for bookshop.org. by purchasing...

at least the scenery looked nice (at times). Joyce Louis-Jean stops by to discuss the absolute trainwreck that is Emerald Fennell's "Wuthering Heights".    to listen to the full episode, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks this is the first episode of SHOULDA FILMS, a monthly bonus show about movies adapted from books. sign up for the Professor tier ($7.9...

MJ Smith shares 3 books that helped her deal with rage. Just don't ever call a Cheeto a chip in front of her.   follow MJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miss_joy99/?hl=en follow MJ on Twitch: https://m.twitch.tv/moirajoy/home Miles Bonsignore's 24-Hour Livestream for Creators Against ICE | Feb 15, 2026 | 9 am onward (PST) Perfect Person podcast (where the livestream will be held): https:/...