Épisodes

  • When Pain Becomes Content (Just Watch Me)

    When Pain Becomes Content (Just Watch Me)
    Jan 23 2026
    Author Lior Torenberg unpacks her debut Just Watch Me, a darkly funny livestream novel that exposes the cost of performing pain online, and our hunger to watch.Debut author Lior Torenberg joins us to talk about Just Watch Me, a bold, internet-shaped novel that unfolds over seven days of nonstop livestreaming. Together, we dig into what it means to write fiction rooted in our current digital moment, and why stories about performance feel so urgent right now.We talk about Torenberg’s path from initial concept to publication, the realities of debuting with a formally inventive novel, and the creative risks of building a narrative around livestream chats, audience participation, and escalating dares. She also walks us through the choice to compress the story into a single week, and how that story structure intensifies both tension and intimacy.In this fun conversation, we explore:📚 Writing inside internet culture: Lior discusses the creative risks of anchoring a debut novel so firmly in 2020s livestream culture, why she wasn’t afraid of the book “dating” itself, and how she captured the chaos of livestream chats—misspellings, slang, trolls, and all—while keeping the story readable and propulsive.📚 Performance, pain, and the cost of being seen: We unpack the escalating hot pepper challenges, Dell’s physical vulnerability, and the darker questions the book raises about what audiences are willing to watch (and what creators are willing to endure) when financial survival depends on strangers.📚 Loneliness, debt, and the gig-economy cliff edge: Beneath the dark humor and inventive form, Just Watch Me is a deeply human story about grief, medical debt, and the feast-or-famine reality of online survival. Lior reflects on how she wanted readers to feel about Dell by the end—and what the novel reveals about our collective longing to be noticed.📚📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s companion list features 43 Debut Books of 2026, including every upcoming release currently on my radar (plus future podcast guests) so you can start reserving library holds and building your TBR early. Patrons will receive printable checklists for their next visit to the library!Meet Lior TorenbergLior Torenberg’s work has been published by One Story, MAYDAY, the Poetry Society of New York, and others. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from New York University and is a graduate of the Lighthouse Writers Workshop’s Book Project. Just Watch Me is her first novel. Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptBuy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!NEW BOOK LIST: These Debut Books of 2026 Should Not Be MissedJoin the January Book Club 1/29 at 8 PM ET (Eleanore of Avignon)2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozierJust Watch Me by Lior TorenbergNYC Hot Sauce ExpoTTYL Series by Lauren MyracleMargot’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi ThorpeHot OnesBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect With Lior Torenberg on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    54 min
  • January Book Club: Eleanore of Avignon

    January Book Club: Eleanore of Avignon
    Jan 16 2026
    Author Elizabeth DeLozier joins us to discuss Eleanore of Avignon, our January Book Club pick, and her bold debut, shaped by plague, medicine, and female power.In this free conversation, Elizabeth DeLozier takes us behind the scenes of Eleanore of Avignon—a richly researched historical novel set during the Black Death, written during the modern pandemic that reshaped how many of us think about illness, fear, and survival.Elizabeth shares how long it took to bring this ambitious debut from first idea to finished book, what it was like to pitch such a high-stakes story as a first novel, and how her background in medicine deeply informed the way she wrote Eleanore’s work as a healer and midwife. We also talk about writing outside of traditional MFA pathways, balancing historical plausibility with emotionally resonant characters, and what surprised her most while researching 14th-century Avignon.Gratitude to Our Show Patrons: This week's episode is open to all listeners thanks to generous donations made through Buy Me a Coffee and your community memberships. If you’d like to keep the conversation going, you’re invited to join our Patreon Book Club chat on January 29 at 8 PM ET, where we’ll dive deeper into spoilers, themes, and reader reactions. Membership is $5 a month, or you can prepay for the year and save 10%. In this fascinating conversation, we explore:📚 Writing a big, ambitious debut: From outlining and pitching to finding an agent and selling the book, Elizabeth walks us through the long road to publication and what she learned along the way.📚 Medicine, midwifery, and historical research: How Elizabeth’s medical background shaped Eleanore’s role as a healer, the realities of early medical practices, and the most astonishing details she uncovered while researching the period. 📚 Plague stories then and now: The eerie parallels between 1347 and the present day, why readers keep returning to historical plague narratives, and how Eleanore of Avignon sits in conversation with books like Hamnet.📚 📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's companion list with 18 Unforgettable Midwife Books, perfect for readers who want to explore these themes further. Patrons will receive printable checklists for their next visit to the library!Meet Elizabeth DeLozierElizabeth DeLozier holds a BA in Spanish literature, a BS in biological anthropology, and a doctorate in physical therapy. A practicing pelvic floor physical therapist, avid traveler, animal lover, and history nerd, she lives in Southern California with her husband, twin sons, and rescue dogs. Eleanore of Avignon is her debut novel, and her sophomore novel, The Whitechapel Full Moon Society, will be published in 2026.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptNEW BOOK LIST: 18 Unforgettable Midwife BooksJoin the January Book Club 1/29 at 8 PM ET (Eleanore of Avignon)2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozierabookoliveThe Great Mortality by John KellyStation ElevenA Distant Mirror by Barbara TuchmanHamnetHamnet by Maggie O’FarrellThe God of the Woods by Liz MooreTaylor Swift - The End of an EraThe White Chapel Full Moon Society by Elizabeth DeLozierBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores. Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect With Elizabeth DeLozier on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    57 min
  • The Best Books of 2025

    The Best Books of 2025
    Jan 9 2026

    We read a total of 443 books and are excited to share twenty-five of our favorite titles from our 2025 reading list. Explore these new releases alongside our favorite backlist books for your best reading year yet.

    We read a total of 443 books and are excited to share twenty-five of our favorite titles from our 2025 reading list. Explore these new releases alongside our favorite backlist books for your best reading year yet.

    We invite you to browse our book lists featuring 25 of our favorites. Patrons will receive a printable checklist with today's book titles and some of our honorable mentions.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!

    Meet Our Upcoming Book Gang Guests (Winter Season Announcement)

    The 2026 Book Club (12 Selections & How to Join)

    Larry’s Top 25 Books of 2025 (Including Honorable Mentions)

    Amy’s Top 25 Books of 2025 (FULL LIST)

    Connect With Us:

    Connect with Larry on Instagram

    Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

    Get My Happy List Newsletter

    Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    2 h et 11 min
  • How a Journey to the Arctic Shaped This Found-Family Story

    How a Journey to the Arctic Shaped This Found-Family Story
    Dec 19 2025
    Head to the Arctic with Nathaniel Ian Miller and discover the true story that inspired his debut, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, for our final episode of 2025.For our final episode of 2025, we’re bringing forward a beloved conversation from the Book Gang archives with debut novelist Nathaniel Ian Miller, discussing his magical winter read, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, and the enduring pull of a great winter story with found-family themes. This episode originally aired for patrons in 2023, and it felt like the perfect moment to share it more widely, along with some gentle reflections from this year, including YOUR best book club book of the year.In this funny conversation, we discuss:📚 Writing at the edge of the world: How Nathaniel’s participation in the Arctic Circle Expeditionary Program—partly born out of the very real cost barriers of research—became foundational to this charming book’s atmosphere and authenticity.📚 The freedom of a “fictional memoir”: Why Sven’s story demanded a looser, more intimate form, how his character surprised Nathaniel as the novel evolved, and why this mid-thirties coming-of-age story feels as expansive as the frozen landscape itself.📚 How real historical events anchored the characters and scenes in this story: From writing morally complex moments that challenged the author’s own convictions to rethinking the historical role of women in polar narratives, Nathaniel unpacks the layered choices that give Sven’s world its depth.📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's celebration of winter reads- 25 Impeccable Winter Books to Savor by the Firelight. Patrons will receive printable checklists for their next visit to the library!Meet Nathaniel Ian MillerNathaniel Ian Miller is the author of the critically acclaimed debut novel The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and translated into five languages. A former journalist for newspapers across New Mexico, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Montana, he now lives with his family on a farm in Vermont. The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven and Red Dog Farm, his second novel, are both available on store shelves now.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptBuy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!NEW BOOK LIST: 25 Impeccable Winter Books To Savor By the Firelight2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)Brick For Your PhoneHamnet Movie TrailerHow to Read a Book by Monica WoodThe Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller Mosquitoland by David Arnold NYT ReviewSundays with Writers: Mosquitoland by David ArnoldLondon Seance Society by Sarah Penner Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner The Birthday Boys by Dame Beryl BainbridgeExpeditionary program at Arctic CircleSalomon AndreeThe Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter Refiners Fire by Mark Helprin Power of One by Bryce Courtenay Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan Office Space FlairWanny WoldstadSvalbard’s DaughtersJohn Franklin’s Canadian expeditionBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores. Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect With Nathaniel Ian Miller on Instagram or his WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    1 h et 3 min
  • Your 2026 TBR Jumpstart With Backlist Picks

    Your 2026 TBR Jumpstart With Backlist Picks
    Dec 12 2025
    Get ahead of 2026’s biggest releases this year. We highlight ten must-read backlist books from authors with upcoming titles, so you have your best library day.What could be better than a discussion on 2026’s biggest releases? We wanted to do something fun (and genuinely helpful) to help you plan next year's TBR. Today, Jessica Bearak is back, and she’s bringing her idea to pair readers with books we don’t want slipping through the cracks. We’ve gathered ten brilliant backlist titles from authors with major books arriving next year, so you can reserve your library holds, fill your Kindle, and feel delightfully ahead of the curve before celebrating their next book. Think of it as your literary pre-game for the year ahead.In this fun conversation, we discuss:📚 A literary pre-game you can actually use: Jessica and I kick things off with the ten major 2026 releases we’ve got our eyes on—so you can start plotting your reading year long before the hype machine starts spinning.📚 Backlist gems to read while you wait: We pair each upcoming title with a backlist book you can grab right now at your library or favorite bookstore, giving you something delicious to dive into while you count down to release day.📚What the buzzy lists missed: We close by chatting about the standout books we think deserved more end-of-year attention—because great reads don’t always make the roundups, and we’re here to fix that.📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's new book guide! 47 Fresh 2026 Book Releases to Reserve Now. Patrons will receive printable checklists for their next visit to the library!Meet Jessica BearakJessica is a lifelong book lover who embarked on her literary journey at three, immersing herself in childhood classics like “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “The Phantom Tollbooth.” Jessica actively participates in two in-person book clubs and regularly engages in many online discussions. She has been an invaluable member of the MomAdvice Book Club.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptBuy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!Join the December Book Club TONIGHT at 8 PM ET (James by Percival Everett)NEW BOOK LIST: 47 Fresh 2026 Book Releases to Reserve NowOnce and Again by Rebecca Serle Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle Friends Are For by Wade Rouse Magic Season by Wade Rouse A Day in the Life of a Book Publicist (Kathleen Carter Episode)Off the Record by Sara Goodman-Confino Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman-Confino Score by Kennedy Ryan Reel by Kennedy Ryan The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives with Heart (Kennedy Ryan Episode)Orson Welles Voodoo MacbethDog Person by Camille Pagán The Spectacular Life Lessons from Books About Road Trips with Colleen Oakley (Podcast with Colleen Oakley)A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce CameronStunning Books About Bookstores (Book List)Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagán Meg Shaffer Interview (The Wishing Game)The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer How Braving a Literary Seminar Shaped The Last Story with Meg Shaffer (Interview with Meg Shaffer)The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer Cozy Fantasy Books to Lower Your Stress Levels (Book List)Five by Ilona Bannister All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker When I Ran Away by Ilona Bannister Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline A Piece of the World by Christine Baker Kline 35 Books About Twins That Double the Drama (Book List)Christina’s World paintingLiberty Street by Heather Marshall Looking for Jane by Heather MarshallThe Jane Collective All You Have To Do Is Call by Kerri Maher Ask for JaneThe JanesEleanor of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier With Love From Harlem by ReShonda Tate The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff Sarah Damoff - The Bright Years Podcast InterviewThe Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect With Jessica on InstagramConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    1 h et 2 min
  • Meet the 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books

    Meet the 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books
    Dec 1 2025

    Join the 2026 MomAdvice Book Club to explore 12 handpicked novels, enjoy lively author chats, and celebrate a year of stories that inspire and delight.

    Get ready to kick off another unforgettable reading year with the 2026 MomAdvice Book Club. In this episode, I’m unveiling my twelve handpicked selections—an extraordinary lineup of novels that challenge perspective and remind us what it means to live bravely and wholeheartedly.

    I read widely and intentionally all year so that every MomAdvice pick feels worthy of your time, your library holds, your gift lists, and your precious reading hours. Announcing the selections early means you can gather copies however is easiest for you. Shop the library, used shops, holiday gifting, or straight from your favorite indie bookshop this year.

    To discover this year's selections, you can head to today's post, which includes all the details, including the recommended format, the reading mood of the novel, and pacing information. Each description also offers the accompanying reader experience for each book.

    I've also uploaded a podcast that goes through each of these books for those of you who prefer an audio experience with some behind-the-scenes details. Please join me on this reading adventure!

    This year, your participation in the book club directly supports the podcast and sustains a space where readers can connect deeply over stories that genuinely matter. Thank you for choosing this space to invest in. I never take it for granted!

    Connect With Us:

    Join the 2026 Book Club

    Make a One-Time Donation to My Show (SO, SO GRATEFUL THIS YEAR!!)

    Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

    Get My Happy List Newsletter

    Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    44 min
  • How Marisa Kashino Landed the Deal for Best Offer Wins

    How Marisa Kashino Landed the Deal for Best Offer Wins
    Nov 21 2025
    Marisa Kashino turns being new to publishing into a superpower, revealing her surprising journey from first draft to the darkly funny thriller, Best Offer Wins.Being brand-new to publishing turned out to be this author's secret weapon in landing her book deal. This week on Book Gang, we’re stepping into the ruthless, dream-chasing world of real estate with Marisa Kashino, journalist and author of Best Offer Wins. She shares how the freedom from expectations fueled her thriller's creativity and story structure, how her query journey unfolded with unexpected serendipity, and why stepping into fiction opened doors she never imagined… including an adaptation already in the works.In this heartwarming and hilarious conversation, we discuss:📚 From Reporting to Satire – Marisa shares how years of covering bidding wars, desperate buyers, and high-stakes real estate inspired her darkly funny take on ambition. Writing as Margo allowed Marisa to channel humor, frustration, and sharp social commentary she could never express out loud through Margot's antics.📚 Subtle Social Commentary – Margot's Asian American identity informs elements of this story, and Marisa shares personal experiences that have shaped these plot elements that informed Margo’s choices, her humor, and the unexpected ways readers may connect with her story.📚 A Secret Project Turns Big – Marisa kept her novel under wraps until she secured an agent, and now it’s heading toward an adaptation with 20th TV, Hulu, and Greta Lee attached. She talks about the thrill of sharing this milestone, how her family reacted, and the joy of seeing a private creative project reach the world.📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's companion book list: 23 Dark Comedy Books That Embrace the Absurd. Patrons will receive printable checklists to take on their next visit to the library!Meet Marisa KashinoMarisa Kashino spent 17 years as a journalist, most recently at The Washington Post, and wrote long-form features and oversaw home design coverage at Washingtonian Magazine. She grew up near Seattle and earned her degree in journalism and political science from the University of Washington. Marisa lives in the DC area with her husband, two dogs, and two cats. Best Offer Wins is her first novel.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptBuy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!Join the November Book Club TONIGHT at 8 PM ET (Weyward by Emilia Hart)NEW BOOK LIST: 23 Dark Comedy Books That Embrace The AbsurdBest Offer Wins by Marisa KashinoThe Writer’s CenterThe Shit No One Tells You About WritingYellowface by R. F. KuangBad Summer People by Emma RosenblumBeefAustin Taylor - Notes on Infinity Podcast InterviewLean In by Sheryl SandburgGreta LeeAllegra Goodman - Isola Podcast InterviewBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Marisa Kashino on InstagramConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    47 min
  • Emma Pattee’s ADHD Trick That Brought Tilt to Life

    Emma Pattee’s ADHD Trick That Brought Tilt to Life
    Nov 14 2025
    Discover the writing hack that Emma Pattee uncovered with a creativity coach, which helped her debut novel, Tilt, transition from her Google Drive to publication.Emma Pattee, climate journalist and fiction writer, joins the Book Gang podcast to discuss her heartpounding debut novel, Tilt. In Tilt, we follow a pregnant woman through a single, intense day as an earthquake hits Portland, where Pattee blends the chaos of the city with the intimate messiness of her marriage and motherhood journey.In our virtual walk with Emma through Portland, we explore:📚 How ADHD and journalism shaped her craft– Emma discusses how a creativity coach helped unlock a new writing system that helped her finally move a project off her Google Drive into a finished book. We discuss the heavy and rarely discussed weight of unfinished projects as creatives.📚 Reporting meets fiction – As a climate journalist, Emma discusses her research-heavy novel that involved interviews with geologists, seismic engineers, and first responders, worked off real destruction maps and city-planning data, then translated it into the book we hold in our hands now.📚 Survival, motherhood & climate anxiety intertwined – Tilt uses the impending "Big One" earthquake as a metaphor for Annie's journey to motherhood, where Emma discusses her stream-of-consciousness voice that keeps the reader inside one woman's daylong survival trek and how it intertwines with Emma's personal fears and discoveries.📚 Bonus Book List – These 23 eco fiction books will have you looking at the world in a whole new way. Marvel at our remarkable connection to nature through this incredible stack. Patrons will receive a printable checklist to take on your next library trip.Meet Emma PatteeEmma Pattee is a climate journalist and fiction writer whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and more. In 2021, she coined the term "Climate Shadow" to describe an individual's potential impact on climate change. Her debut novel, Tilt, is a National Bestseller, NYT Editor's Choice, and recognized by NPR, Time, Vogue, and Bustle as one of the best books of the year. She lives in Portland, Oregon.Mentioned in this episode:Download Today's Show TranscriptBuy Me a Coffee - I'm grateful for your support this year!Join the November Book Club 11/21 at 8 PM ET (Weyward by Emilia Hart)NEW BOOK LIST: 23 Eco Fiction Books You'll LoveNEW: 32-Page November Reading Guide & FULLY BOOKED Patron ShowTilt by Emma PatteeHillary RettigAlison Larkin - Home of the American Circus Podcast EpisodeDucks, Newburyport by Lucy EllmannThe Truth About Portland’s Brick Schools Is Scarier Than FictionDr. Katherine HayhoeBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Emma Pattee on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    48 min