Shelf Sabotage™

On this episode of Shelf Sabotage ™, Arielle and Tasha discuss Amy DuBois Barnett’s If I Ruled the World , exploring its late ’90s hip-hop and magazine-publishing setting, the ambition and workplace drama at the heart of the story, and the Nas song that shares its title. Listen now... for the 99 and the 2000s!

We’re back with a new episode of Shelf Sabotage! Arielle and Tasha get into King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby.

**Content warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and self-harm. Listener discretion is advised.** What would happen if every white person in the world suddenly died, leaving Black people and other people of color to rebuild society and decide what comes next? In this episode of *Shelf Sabotage*, Tasha and Arielle discuss Cebo Campbell’s *Sky Full of Elephants*, Left on Read’s...

Tune in as Arielle and Tasha dive into Zeal by Morgan Jerkins, a sweeping, multigenerational novel about love, loss, family secrets, and the ways one generation’s choices can shape those that follow. They discuss the dual timelines, Tirzah and Harrison’s enduring connection, Ardelia and Oliver’s complicated relationship, and whether the ending delivers on the story’s promise. Note:  This episode i...

Note:  This episode includes discussion of domestic violence and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. Author Nikesha Elise Williams joins us for part two to discuss the family secrets, complicated relationships, and generations of Black women at the center of the novel. We also talk about her writing and publishing journey, the choices behind the story, and what she hopes readers carry...

In Part 1 of our conversation about The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams, we unpack the secrets, relationships, and inherited wounds connecting seven generations of women from 1860 to 1995. We talk through our first impressions, the shifting timeline, the characters who tested our patience, and the ways the novel explores motherhood, colorism, passing, hair, reproductive trauma,...

Check out Part 2 of our Harlem Rhapsody discussion. This time, we're joined by the book's author, Victoria Christopher Murray, who discusses the research behind the novel, her writing process, the choices she made in telling Jessie Redmon Fauset’s story, and where history ends and fiction begins. We also get into Victoria's latest novel, the responsibility of writing real Black histori...

In Part 1, we discuss Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray. Join us as we get into the complicated relationship between Jessie Redmon Fauset and W.E.B. Du Bois—from the affair, grief, and power dynamics to race relations and more. The conversation continues in Part 2, where we speak with Victoria about her writing process, what in the story is real and what's not, and her latest nove...

The real question: would you have covered for Dimple? This week, we're unpacking the siblings' decision, the predicament they find themselves in, and the audacity of Cyril.

In this episode, we discuss Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez—a multigenerational historical fiction rooted in land, legacy, family secrets, and the history behind the Kingdom of the Happy Land.

This week on Shelf Sabotage, we’re joined by Vanessa Walters, author of Lagos Wife, to talk about the inspiration behind the book, the real-life experiences that shaped the story, and the layers beneath the drama. 👀✨ If you’ve read Lagos Wife (or are looking for your next read), this conversation is one you don’t want to miss!

Content warning: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. This week's episode unpacks The Lagos Wife : a mystery featuring complex history, layered characters, and an unexpected twist. We discuss the back-and-forth timeline featuring two main perspectives, and how much of the main character comes through other people’s voices. Ch...

On this episode of Shelf Sabotage ™, we get into With Love from Harlem by ReShonda Tate, and… whew! Join us as we follow the life of Hazel Scott, a Black woman and musical prodigy navigating fame, love, and power in 1940s Harlem, alongside Adam Clayton Powell Jr., whose ambition and ego complicate it all. From the outside, Hazel’s life looks glamorous but up close “it’s complicated,” as life and l...

In this episode of Shelf Sabotage , we’re breaking down Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. We follow Ifemelu and Obinze across Nigeria, the United States, and the U.K., and use their story to open up a wider conversation. We talked about “the American dream,” Black hair, identity, unlearning respectability, and the tension between who you were, who you are, and who you’re becoming. We also ge...

In Episode 2 of Shelf Sabotage™, we sit down with P. Djèlí Clark to discuss his award winning novella, Ring Shout , and the cultural traditions that resonate with themes explored in the movie Sinners . From the spiritual roots of ring shouts to Black folklore, resistance, and the role of media in shaping history, we unpack the deeper connections between the book, the film, and the cultural traditi...

Welcome to the very first episode of Shelf Sabotage™. In our premiere, we’re diving into P. Djèlí Clark’s Ring Shout : a genre-bending story that definitely had us thinking (and slightly confused at times 😅). As we discuss, some powerful through lines begin to emerge that make the story hit even deeper. If you’ve read it, drop your thoughts below. We want to hear your take!