What You Should Read

Send a text We're discussing more of our favorite books by Black authors and this time, we're joined by poet and playwright Dr. Sherna Phillips (known to her students as Dr. Nae)! Sidebar topics include how long Kelly sticks to book bans (not long), how our fall TBR challenge is going (not well) and which celeb book club we like the most. Links:  S.E. Hinton and graphic novels: https://w...

Send a text Hello and we are finally back! This week, we discuss Indigenous authors and the books you absolutely cannot miss. Sidebar topics include an update on our reading TBR challenge (suffice to say we are slightly behind), Christmas cookies (enjoy how smoothly Kelly was able to demand some) and how wonderful it is to be back together, taping the podcast. We also briefly discuss our upcoming...

Send a text You know what you should read? Julia, Kelly and Rachael make a bold declaration of five books they will each read before the end of the year. Can we do it? We've got a forking good points system to help keep us accountable (but the smart money is not on Kelly).  We've also decided to start a book club! We are very excited to announce our first pick: The Book of Two Ways by Jo...

Send a text Grab your water bottles, your swimsuits, and your $35 white t-shirts, it's time to go to summer camp! It's our last Babysitters Club Netflix show recap. Bittersweet! Julia, Kelly, and Rachael are joined by Kristen Mckenzie to discuss the two-part finale to season 1 of this amazing adaptation. We discuss all things rebellious, including Kristy's struggle with not being in...

Send a text We are so delighted to share this interview from one of our favorite authors, K. Ancrum! While most of the episode is the three of us flailing about The Wicker King and The Weight of the Stars, we also have side discussions on Chipotle and how it can sometimes be used as a tool for vengeance, found families, her beautiful author notes and acknowledgments and so much more. Also, "W...

Send a text In this week's episode, we're joined by Emily Duran-Frontera to discuss books that are both by and featuring Latinx authors! Along the way, we discuss snow (two of us are not fans), the absolute delight of magical realism and, of course, the way that things always go back to Gilmore Girls. We also continue our current "bonus segment" of  What You Should Eat, thanks...

Send a text This week we're going BIG! That's right, we're talking big books. We like them and we cannot lie. Tune in to get some truly massive book recommendations, tips for getting through those gargantuan tomes, and why you might not want to read The Stand during a pandemic. Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send a text Welcome back to another Baby-Sitter's Club Netflix series recap! This week we recap episode 8, "Kristy's Big Day." We discuss how much we all love the episode, what we drove for our first cars, kindergarten weddings, and more! Be sure to listen, you'll love it.  Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send a text Grab a pumpkin spiced something and open up your Goodreads “want to read” folder because today we’re giving you our most anticipated books for fall 2020! Joined by our friend and “A Glass of Wine” book blogger Kathy Coe, the “What You Should Read” team wastes no time hyping up the books we are most excited to see released for the rest of the year. What books are you looking forward to?...

Send a text Grab your sunscreen and your mollusks, we're headed to Sea City!! We're re-capping episode 7 of the Netflix series "The Baby-Sitters Club" show. This episode we discuss feeling second-hand embarrassment for Stacey, how Mary Anne is too nice, and whether or not Karen is sabotaging Kristy on purpose. Join us for a great time!!!  Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send a text We are SO thrilled to have author and best friend of the pod Liza Wiemer on the show this week! Aside from being What You Should Read’s biggest champion, Liza is also an amazing writer and her new book, The Assignment , is now available from wherever books are sold. In the episode we talk about the process of writing a novel inspired by true events, social activism, and Liza’s super in...

Send a text We're back with our recap of the Baby-sitters Club episodes on Netflix. This week we are joined by Kim Le to discuss Episode 6, "Claudia and Mean Janine." This week we dive into some of the important topics the episode touches on, discuss Asian American representation in media, and Kim offers a theory about Richard Spier and Liz Thomas that blows our minds. Also, did we...

Send a text Do you even re-read? We certainly do! This week discusses what makes a book a good re-read, why we love diving back in to our faves, and pro tips for getting the most out of a re-read. Also Kelly is very concerned that Julia and Rachael are going to steal her Dobby socks. (She’s correct).    What books do you love to re-read? Follow us and let us know! Follow What You Should Read: Twit...

Send a text The Netflix BSC recaps continue! Today we are joined by the Dawn-identified and hilarious Kim Bowers to discuss episode 5: “Dawn and the Impossible Three.” During the episode we discuss horrible babysitting jobs we’ve had and Kim shares a WILD story that will make you shake your head and say “rich people, amiright?” Follow What You Should Read: Twitter: @wysr_podcast Instagram: @wysr_p...

Send a text Happy belated National Book Lovers day to our WYSR family! Today we are chatting with Adib Kohrram, author of Darius the Great is Not Okay . During the interview we discuss why the show “Star Trek: Next Generation” brings families together; Adib gives us some tips for getting through the Corona-times (hint: it involves Animal Crossing); and we learn the behind-the-scenes story of how t...

Send a text Mary Anne’s Dad has a Jerusalem artichoke and he’s not afraid to use it. Join us for another weekly bonus conversation where we re-cap episode 4 of the new Netflix series “The Baby Sitter’s Club” Mary Anne Saves the Day . Today we are joined by Amanda, who self identifies as a Mary Anne which is awesome because as we learn in this episode Mary Anne is the coolest, funniest, bravest, be...

Send a text This week we are joined by Ben and Keith from Movies and a Meal podcast to discuss some of our favorite book to movie adaptations. We explore what makes a good adaptation, whether you should always read the book first or not (Kelly has very strong and correct opinions on this) and why Meryl Streep should just be in everything. Follow Movies and a Meal: https://moviesandameal.podbean.co...

Send a text The “What you Should Read” crew continues their recaps of the new Netflix series The Baby-Sitters’ Club. Today we are joined by Alysia Lee to talk about episode 3, The Truth about Stacey. In this episode, Stacey has a secret, Claudia is a good friend, Mary Anne proves funnier and more sophisticated than the others, and Kristy continues her Machiavellian downward spiral. We also try to...

Send a text In today’s episode we are joined by our friend Bekki Fahrer to discuss one of her all-time favorite books (and now also ours), Kindred by Octavia Butler. This book broke so many barriers, and should be required reading for every American.  Before you listen to the episode, we highly recommend you seek out commentary from Black reviewers and writers,  so you can hear about this book in...

Send a text We’re doing it, we’re recapping the new Netflix series The Baby-Sitters Club! As Claudia Kishi would say “I’m good at a lot of things” including podcasting, so we’re diving in to this new series episode by episode. Up first is a quick recap of episode 1 (listen to our episode on "Childhood Faves" for a deeper five on the series premier) and then we jump right in to episode 2...

Send a text This week we have author, designer, artist, and epic meal chef Errick Nunnally! We catch up with Errick about his Alexander Smith novel series, the second installment of which ( All the Dead Men ) is now available wherever books are sold and from Haverhill Press. It’s a fantastic urban fantasy detective series following a 150 year old Shapeshifter who is the son of a man who escaped sl...

Send a text If you had a series or a book you loved so much as a kid you read them so many times she spines pratically disintegrated, you’re going to love this week’s episode on childhood favorites! At the top of the episode, Julia, Kelly, and Rachael discuss some of their favorite books as kids, and then at 27:30 we are joined by AJ McCombs to discuss the new Netflix adaptation of Ann M. Martin’s...

Send a text This week Rachael and Julia’s brother Lenny joins the “What You Should Read” crew to talk about books that were ruined by Hollywood. Ruined! As a self-proclaimed “hype guy” Lenny finds himself constantly disappointed by adaptations of his favorite books. We talk about a few of the most egregious offenders. Because the Hall siblings are currently quarantining at our moms house you get t...

Send a text On this week’s episode we talk to award-winning and best-selling author Angie Kim! Her book Miracle Creek was recently released in paperback and we’re thrilled she stopped by to tell us what the writing process was like and what inspired her to write the story. We hope you love this episode as much as we loved talking to Angie!    Follow Angie Kim: Twitter: @AngieKimWriter Instagram :...

Send a text Happy Pride month everybody! This week the “What You Should Read” team discuss why it’s important to have more books with LGBTQ+ representation, some of our favorite examples, and why though she’s glad  to see more representation in mainstream publishing, Kelly still (secretly) loves cheesy lesbian romance novels. #ShoutoutKarinKallmaker   Follow WYSR: Twitter: @wysr_podcast Instagram:...