Episode 071: New Moon

Just in time for the new moon on December 25 comes our discussion of Stephanie Meyer's follow up to Twilight. Or as Nathan put it, "We're still talking about this?"

Episode 070: Twilight

We went for it. We read Twilight. Well...most of us read it. And we discussed it. And somehow it's our longest episode ever.

Episode 069: The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

Somewhere in the holy hot mess of our bantering back and forth is a really profound discussion of The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee (it's not our fault if you don't make it to the real discussion).

 Seriously, though, this has a 12 minute Easter Egg (that only those who love us will be able to sit through) that was cut down from about 35 minutes of side conversation and transitions. Only the finest tofu giblets for our esteemed listeners.

Episode 068: Once and Future by Amy Rose Capeta and Cori McCarthy

For some reason we discuss have 2 minutes of discussion about Sisqó at the beginning of this episode. Feel free to fast forward to the 7 minute mark. Eventually we discuss the book Once and Future -- which I think it's safe to say, we all loved reading.

Episode 067: Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera (short take)

In this short take, Lindsey sells us on reading Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera.

Also Cash Money talks up Laini Taylor and Cerce by Madeline Miller.

Nathan talks briefly about Anna-Marie McLemore.

And Nate has an exciting, but totally untrue, announcement.

Episode 064: Spin by Lamar Giles

We took a week off for Labor Day (gotta support the labor movmnt!)

In this episode we discuss the book Spin by Lamar Giles.

Nate hijacked the opening and took us through a breakneck speed. Just like the book, we get right to business. I hope it lives up to our standards (*ahem* I know, you're asking, "you have standards"?) because the book is great!

Lindsey suggests On the Come Up by Angie Thomas.

Nate suggests Jo Nesbø's Harry Hole series (start with Flaggermusmannen—or The Bat if you read it in English).

Molly suggests Heavy Vinyl by Carly Usdin.

Cash Money suggests Veronica Mars.

Episode 063: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connel

working on my vacation and left some files at work, so this one lacks some of the polish you may be accustomed to (ha!). Hopefully, it feels like you are in the room where it all happens.

Nate suggests Friday Night Lights 

Molly suggests My Brother's Husband by Gengoroh Tagame

Cash Money suggests Euphoria and Girl Mans Up by M.E. Girard

Episode 062: Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan

We discuss Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan. Molly spends the middle of the episode embodying the character Chelsea.

 Molly suggests The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer, Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by Lev AC Rosen, I Kill The Mockingbird by Paul Acampora, and How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation by Maureen Johnson.

Lindsey suggests The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart, Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu.

Cash Money suggests Can We All Be Feminists?: New Writing from Brit Bennett, Nicole Dennis-Benn, and 15 Others on Intersectionality, Identity, and the Way Forward for Feminism edited by June Eric-Udorie, and the show Chambers on Netflix.

Episode 061: We Set The Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

In this episode we discuss We Set The Dark on Fire by debut author Tehlor Kay Mejia.
The panelists in the room all thought the book had potential, but we all wanted more.

We hope our discussion is substantive and constructive. We know the book got some starred reviews, so we're interested in hearing from people who really loved it.

Also beware there are Mockingjay spoilers in our readalikes section.

Molly suggests The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Cash Money suggests The Selection by Kiera Cass.

Nathan suggests Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.

Episode 060: Rayne & Deliliah's Midnite Matinee By Jeff Zenter

Marvel at Lindsey's book talking abilities as she seems to persuade one sighing panelist into giving Jeff Zentner's new book Rayne & Deliliah's Midnite Matinee a shot.

Episode 059: Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

This discussion gets off to a less than professional start because we were intending to talk about a different book, but the gravity of this one pulled us in at the mention of its name. We forgot to read a passage or do the other niceties we normally do to make stuff sound more like a show and less like a free for all. Please enjoy a closer glimpse into our process (light editing).

Readalikes include:

NATE
And I Darken by Kiersten White
Deadwood

KIM
Red Dead Redemption 

MOLLY
Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer
True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
Etiquette and Espionage series by Gail Carriger
Firefly

AMY
Westworld 

NATHAN
Sally Lockhart series by Philip Pullman

LINDSEY
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

CASH MONEY
That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E. K. Johnston

Episode 058: Pride by Ibi Zoboi

We chat about the Pride and Prejudice Remix PRIDE by Ibi Zoboi.
Readalikes?

MOLLY
Jake, reinvented by Gordon Korman (a Great Gatsby rewrite)
Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart (a Talented Mr. Ripley rewrite)

NATHAN
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

NATE
Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

LINDSEY
In the Heights by Quiara Alegría Hudes & Lin-Manuel Miranda

Episode 057: Sadie by Courtney Summers

In this episode we discuss Sadie by Courtney Summers. The conversation bounces around to journalism and true crime writing.

We offer Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston and Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis as readalikes.

Episode 056: Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

In this episode we discuss Harbor Me. 

Our readalikes include Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo and the track series by Jason Reynolds (particularly Patina).

 For the first time ever I didn't add background music to the cold open. We had a not so great recording of Amy and that bit usually takes the longest (in no small part because I often compose a new song each time). Probably no one would have noticed if I hadn't said anything. Not many people are probably tuning in for my sick beats.

Episode 055: Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg

Molly tells us about Bill Konigsberg's new novel in our 2nd shorter take. Enjoy!

054: What If It's Us by Becky Albertali and Adam Silvera

In this episode we discuss the Adam Silvera/Becky Albertali collaboration, What If It's Us.

We discuss whether we're team Arthur or Ben, and have a long discussion about punctuality. I'm super embarrassed to have realized that our discussion of punctuality does not include a discussion of class. Arthur comes from money; Ben does not, and I somehow managed to miss that when talking about the fact that Ben has to rely on modes of more affordable transportation. I wish we'd had this conversation, and I may ask us to get back together to record an amendment to this episode in the future. But feel free to take us to task for missing it here. We'd love to hear your take.

Additionally, Lindsey suggests More Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle.

Molly suggests The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon.

Amy suggests The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson, every book by David Levithan, and Becky Albertali's books.

Cash Money suggests The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding and From Twinkle With Love by Sandhya Menon.

Episode 053: Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo

We're trying something new here: a short review by one panelist. We're hoping to release these shorter takes in between longer discussions. We hope they are just as illuminating as our hour-long discussions, but more digestible (for when you need a short nibble and not a full meal).

In our inaugural attempt, Lindsey talks about Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution, a companion/sequel to the Stonewall Award winning Fat Angie by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo.

Episode 052: Dread Nation (Rise Up) by Justina Ireland

Five of us discussed Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (waaaay back in 2018). We talk about zombie metaphors, the 13th amendment, and half the podcast sings Hamilton throughout.

Molly suggests Firefly (and I think she suggested Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older, but we lost some audio in a glitch).

Nathan suggests Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Cash Money and Kim suggest Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

Amy talked a lot about the Governor arc of Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman; she also suggests The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton.

There is also a lot of talk of the show Harlots.

Episode 051: Recapping 2018

We each give a rundown of the things we enjoyed most in 2018 and it's a ridiculously long list.

Lindsey: The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater, I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, Cardboard Kingdom (various authors), Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Runaways by Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphana, Saga vol. 8 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples, As the Crow Flies (by  Melanie Gillman?), The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez, The Hazelwood by Melissa Albert, Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali, Ladycastle by Delilah S. Dawson, The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the best burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding, Leah on the Offbeat AND Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertali, The Lady's Guide to Piracy and Petticoats by Mackenzi Lee, Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour, Drum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Her Name in the Sky by Kelly Quindlen, Blanca and Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore, and Archenemies by Marissa Meyer.

Nate: Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson, Check, Please by Ngozi Ukazi, and the film Captain Ron (really?)

Kim: Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa, Monstress Vol. 3 by Marjorie Liu, My Brother's Husband by Gengorah Tagame, #NotYourPrincess (edited) by Charleyboy, The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee, Laid-back Camp by Afro, and Crush by Svetlana Chmakova

Molly: The Photogrpaher by Didier Lefèvre, Emmanuel Guibert, and Frédéric Lemercier, The Damkeeper by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi, Witchboy by Molly Ostertag, My Brother's Husband  by Gengorah Tagame, The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater, My Hearbeat by Garret Freyman-Weyr, Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma, What if it's Us by Becky Albertali and Adam Silvera, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman.

Cash Money: Dopesick by Beth Macy. Television shows: Curious Creations of Christine McConnell, American Gods, Killing Eve, Brooklyn 99, Superstore, The Good Place, Big Mouth, Billions, Adam Ruins Everything, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Sharp Objects, Nanette by Hannah Gadsby, CNN's 70s, 80s, and 90s documentaries, To All The Boys I've Loved Before, Brainchild. Podcasts: Binge Mode, Ologies. YouTube Channels: New Rock Stars. Instagram Celebrities: Celeste Barber and Donte Colley. Bands: Blood Orange and The Wiggles.

Nathan: Less by Andrew Sean Greer, Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse, the podcast Shelf-Involved.