Book Gang

Author Holly Kennedy joins Book Gang to celebrate our November Book Club pick, The Sideways Life of Denny Voss, and its journey to critical acclaim.In this episode, we celebrate The Sideways Life of Denny Voss—our November Book Club pick and a Giller Prize long-listed novel—with returning guest Holly Kennedy.Holly first joined us to share the inspiration behind Denny’s unforgettable voice and story. Now, she’s back to reflect on the novel’s continued success, new accolades, and the quirks of her creative life. Dive into this fun round of writer habits, reading life confessions, and quickfire questions designed to help listeners get to know Holly beyond the page.In this spoiler-free catch-up, we discuss:📚 Literary Recognition & Global Reach: Holly reflects on the honor of being long-listed for the Giller Prize—Canada’s most prestigious literary award—and what it means to see Denny Voss find new readers at home and abroad, including a recent rights sale in Japan and a nibble from the film world.📚 Writing Life, Rituals & Creative Surprises: Holly shares her unique writing habits, from morning coffee and water-inspired creativity to the role of music and a “dump zone” for ideas. We also chat about her process for writing dialogue and how she captures the heart of a story.📚 The Joys & Challenges of Reader Connection: From winning an Earphones Award for the audiobook to receiving heartfelt (and sometimes surprising!) notes from fans, Holly opens up about the rewards and unexpected moments that come with sharing Denny’s story—and how she’s finding excitement for her next book, The Story of Audie Barr.Meet Holly KennedyBorn and raised in Canada, Holly Kennedy currently lives near the Rocky Mountains in Alberta with her family and their Newfoundland dog, Wallace. She is the author of four novels, and her books have been translated into multiple languages. When she’s not writing, you’ll typically find her reading, spending time with family, or indulging her not-so-secret obsession: watching true crime TV shows like Dateline.Mentioned in this episode: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 November 19th 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%SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)November Book Club Episode: The Sideways Life of Denny Vos by Holly KennedyNovember Book Club Spoiler Episode: The Sideways Life of Denny Vos SPOILER SECTIONEverand Audiobook Option for The Sideways Life of Denny VosKindle+ Membership: The Sidways Life of Denny Vos (FREE TRIAL OPTION)The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy (INDIE BOOKSTORE OPTION)BONUS BOOK LIST: 51 Funny Books to Read Now (DOWNLOAD THE LIST NOW)NEW BONUS: November FULLY BOOKED Podcast & 26-Page NewsletterThe Giller PrizeAndrew EidenShower notepadNicola Yoon Discusses Her Provocative DebutKauai Writers ConferenceAmerican Dirt by Jeanine CumminsMemoirs of a Geisha by Arthur GoldenLong Bright River by Liz MooreHeft by Liz MooreThe God of the Woods by Liz MooreThe Unseen World by Liz MooreRoom by Emma DonoghueA Man Called Ove by Fredrik BackmanEleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanBroken Country by Clare Leslie HallShow Don’t Tell by Curtis SittenfeldMillions of Cats by Wanda GágTheo of Golden by Allen LeviThe Goldfinch by Donna TarttThe Secret History by Donna TarttWolf Hall by Hilary MantelLullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’NeillIcebreaker by Hannah GraceMcNally Robinson BookstoreThe Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa BandThe Tin Box by Holly KennedyBookshop.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 Holly Kennedy on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Lu Chekowsky reveals how decades in advertising and personal challenges inspired her powerful memoir, Don’t Buy What I’m Selling.This week on Book Gang, Emmy-winning ad creative Lu Chekowsky joins us to talk about her bold memoir, Don’t Buy What I’m Selling. You may not recognize her name, but you’ve definitely felt her influence.Lu pulls back the curtain on the world of advertising, sharing a journey that stretches from childhood poems about Levi’s to being part of a viral Michael Jordan campaign. Along the way, she confronts the invisible labor, personal costs, and body-image battles behind the scenes of an industry built on selling aspirational bodies that didn't look like hers. I promise, you’ll never see an ad the same way again.In this week’s juicy episode, we discuss:📚 Auditioning to Tell Her Own Story: Lu shares the surprising reality of having to "audition" to narrate her own memoir—and how voicing her story in the audiobook studio brought new power and intimacy to her journey, with a surprising starter job that not only helped with this job, but empowered her in the world of advertising.📚 The Power and Pressure of Image: We explore Lu’s experience with body image, self-worth, and media culture, and how the memoir confronts the messages we absorb (and perpetuate) about beauty, acceptance, and enough-ness.📚 Escaping the Sell: What Happens When You Break Up With Advertising? Lu shares the wild, sometimes surreal reality of life behind the world’s most influential campaigns, and what it truly costs to make a living selling other people’s dreams—plus what’s left of your own when you walk away.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list features 21 Nonfiction November Books To Read Now—my most anticipated new releases and a handful of backlist gems to inspire your reading month. Patrons receive a printable list and a spoiler-filled chat with Lu Chekowsky, where we dig deeper into their memoir and the art of self-reinvention.Meet Lu ChekowskyLu Chekowsky [she/they] is a writer and Emmy Award–winning creative director, and the author of Don’t Buy What I’m Selling: On Breaking Up With Advertising and Finally Learning to Love My Whole, Fat Self (Little, Brown, 2026).Lu’s career has spanned creative leadership roles at Facebook, Comedy Central, MTV, and Wieden+Kennedy, shaping campaigns for everything from The Daily Show and Broad City to Nike and Delta. Their essays and poetry have appeared in The Rumpus, Pigeon Pages, Autofocus, Ad Age, and Muse by Clios. A 2023 NYSCA/NYFA Fellow in nonfiction, Lu lives in the Hudson Valley.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)October Book Club Episode: One Yellow Eye by Leigh RadfordFREE BONUS BOOK LIST:21 Nonfiction November Books To Read NowThe Nonfiction November Challenge You Need: Meet the Founder (Podcast Episode)Don’t Buy What I’m Selling by Lu ChekowskyReturns & Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker501 Blues: A Look Back at the Levi’s Ad CampaignNike’s Walt Stack adHow Sex Work Prepared Me for a Career in AdvertisingWoodworking by Emily St. JamesBookshop.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 Lu Chekowsky on Instagram or Their WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Corey Ann Haydu reflects on moving from YA to adult fiction and how motherhood shaped her deeply honest debut, Mothers and Other Strangers.Perfectly pitched for fans of Claire Lombardo and J. Courtney Sullivan, debut adult novelist Corey Ann Haydu joins Book Gang to discuss her acclaimed Mothers and Other Strangers. The novel opens with two estranged friends reuniting, both about to become mothers, as they confront a decades-old betrayal that changed their families forever.Corey shares how new motherhood and her years in children’s and YA writing shaped the emotional honesty of her adult debut—a project she wrote in secret, embracing the bravery it takes to reinvent yourself as a seasoned novelist.In this week’s fascinating episode, we discuss:📚Navigating the Publishing “In-Between”: Corey discusses how Mothers and Other Strangers found itself between literary and commercial fiction—a space that can be tricky for editors and publishers. She opens up about the challenges of selling a book that’s hard to categorize and what it means for writers and readers when a novel doesn’t fit neatly on the shelf.📚 Genre-Shifting and Audience Overlap: Corey reflects on her move from children’s and YA books to adult fiction, and what it’s like to bring longtime readers along for a new kind of story. She shares insights on writing for different age groups, what remains the same, and the unique rewards and surprises of finding new audiences.📚  The Search for Community and the Allure of MLMs: We explore how Corey’s novel compassionately examines the vulnerability of new motherhood, the hunger for connection, and the ways women are drawn into—and sometimes exploited by—multi-level marketing schemes.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list offers readers 14 Books & Films on MLMs, Scams, and the Art of the Con—the perfect companion for anyone fascinated by the world of multi-level marketing and the art of persuasion. Patrons will receive a printable list to take to their local library, plus a spoiler-filled chat with Corey Ann Haydu, where we dive deeper into the back half of Mothers and Other Strangers.Meet Corey Ann HayduAuthor and educator Corey Ann Haydu has been publishing critically acclaimed books in the young adult and children’s space since 2013, including OCD Love Story, Eventown, Lawless Spaces, The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene, and more. Currently, she is on faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in their Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program.Her debut adult novel, Mothers and Other Strangers, came out in March 2026 and was the April 2026 Barnes and Noble Book Club pick, a People Magazine Book of the Week, and a Publisher’s Marketplace BuzzBook.Corey’s books have been Edgar Award nominees, Amazon Books of the Month, RISE Honorees, Junior Library Guild Selections, Kirkus, PW, and SLJ Best Books of the Year, BCCB Blue Ribbon Honorees, Brooklyn Public Library and Chicago Public Library Books of the Year, and more. A former theatre kid with a BFA in theatre and an MFA in writing, Corey lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughters.You can find Corey on her Substack, Books and Bangs, and as cohost of the podcast Still Writing.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)October Book Club Episode: One Yellow Eye by Leigh RadfordFREE BONUS BOOK LIST:14 Books & Films on MLMs, Scams, and the Art of the ConCAST YOUR VOTE FOR OUR 2027 BOOK CLUB PICKSMothers and Other Strangers by Corey Ann HayduJessica Bearak InstagramIsola by Allegra GoodmanAllegra Goodman - Isola podcast episodeMeg WolitzerClaire LombardoInvasive Species by Ellery AdamsOCD Love Story by Corey Ann HayduThe Dream podcastLuLaRichHey, Hun by Emily Lynn PaulsonBookshop.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 Corey Ann Haydu on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Debuting with Thousand Voices, Anna McCallie shares how mentorship and fresh perspectives shaped Abby Offsides—a heartfelt romance about reinvention and belonging.Debut author Anna McCallie joins Book Gang to celebrate her sparkling debut, Abby Offsides—a contemporary romance set amid the camaraderie and chaos of UK football—and to introduce listeners to Thousand Voices, Jenna Bush Hager's new imprint dedicated to uplifting debut and early-career authors.Drawing on her own leap from Boston to London, Anna shares how she wove personal experiences of reinvention, vulnerability, and found family into Abby’s journey from outsider to insider—and learned the rules of romance writing along the way!In this week’s episode, we discuss:📚Launching with Thousand Voices: Anna discusses being among the first wave of debut authors published by Jenna Bush Hager’s new imprint, Thousand Voices, and shares how this supportive publishing model and hands-on mentorship shaped Abby Offsides from manuscript to publication.📚 The Power of Found Family: We explore the vibrant, lived-in world of Mersey Football Club, the camaraderie among athletes, and how McCallie crafts cozy, relatable moments—on and off the field—that capture the heart of sports and romance fans alike.📚  Navigating Romance Reader Expectations: Anna talks candidly about the specific tastes and strong opinions within the romance community, how she approached sensitive topics like infidelity and “messy” relationships in Abby Offsides, and what she’s learned from reader feedback as a debut novelist in the genre.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 12 Books From Thousand Voices to Watch For This week’s bonus book list spotlights the standout debuts and upcoming releases from Thousand Voices, Jenna Bush Hager’s new imprint. Patrons will receive a printable list to take to their local library, plus a bonus spoiler chat with Anna McCallie, where we dive deeper into Abby Offsides and how she created her unforgettable happily-ever-after moments.Meet Anna McCallieAnna McCallie was born in Boston and moved to the small town of Stilwell, Kansas, as a child. She has a B.A. in Arabic from Harvard University and an M.A. in international environmental policy from the Fletcher School, yet has never managed to have a job related to either of those subjects. She lives in London, and when she’s not writing, she can be found solving crossword puzzles, badgering her friends to go to pub quizzes, and watching a tremendous amount of football. Abby Offsides is her first novel and available on store shelves now.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)October Book Club Episode: One Yellow Eye by Leigh RadfordFREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 12 Books From Thousand Voices to Watch ForAbby Offsides by Anna McCallieBeach Read by Emily HenryTwo Weeks NoticeMia Hutchinson ShawInto The Blue by Emma BrodieBookshop.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 Anna McCallie on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter 

Author Ellery Adams discusses her genre-blending novel Invasive Species, the power of public reviewing, and why honesty and horror make the best book club fodder.This week on Book Gang, we’re joined by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ellery Adams, whose genre-blending new release, Invasive Species, is a darkly funny, horror-tinged romp set in 1980s suburbia. With more than forty novels to her name—including beloved series like The Secret, Book, & Scone Society—Ellery shares how she’s redefining what cozy, horror, and women’s fiction can be.In this episode, we dive into Ellery’s journey from cozy mysteries to genre-blending horror and satire, the art of honest book reviews (even as an author), and what it takes to build a world readers want to revisit again and again.In this week’s juicy episode, we discuss:📚  Honest Reviews & Reader Connection: Ellery is famous for her candid book reviews—even as a working author—and her willingness to engage in tough conversations on Goodreads. We explore the etiquette (and emotional toll) of public feedback, how she handles criticism, and why she believes honest dialogue between writers and readers makes the book world stronger.📚Reinventing a Writing Life: Ellery Adams’s journey from cozy mysteries to genre-blending horror is anything but linear. We discuss her bold leap from beloved series writer to risk-taking genre bender, how she navigated industry upheaval and shifting contracts, and what it means to trust your instincts even when readers expect you to "stay in your lane."📚 Monsters, Myth, and Suburban Drama: Invasive Species is more than a monster tale. We unpack Ellery’s sharp satire of 1980s suburbia, the real-life and mythological inspirations behind Mrs. Smith, and why the monstrous can be both literal and metaphorical. Plus, how horror (even cozy horror!) reflects our deepest anxieties about ambition, community, and what it means to be an outsider.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list features 11 Creature Feature Books that every reader should try for spooky season!  Patrons of the show will receive a printable list to take to their local library and a bonus spoiler chat with Ellery Adams, where we dig deeper into the monstrous twists in Invasive Species.Meet Ellery AdamsEllery Adams is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels. A native New Yorker, she now resides in central North Carolina. Her acclaimed series include the Secret, Book, & Scone Society (Kensington), Book Retreat Mysteries (Kensington), Books By the Bay Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Molly Appleby Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries (Beyond the Page), and Hope Street Mysteries (Beyond the Page).In addition to her cozy and traditional mysteries, Ellery writes genre-blending fiction focused on women and their inner monsters. Her latest, Invasive Species (2026, HarperCollins), marks an exciting new direction—one that’s already winning over fans of dark, witty, and emotionally resonant storytelling. Friends in Dark Places will follow in 2027.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcastNEW BOOK LIST: 11 Creature Feature Books to Try This Spooky Season2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)October Book Club Episode: One Yellow Eye by Leigh RadfordCancer Made Me Do It by Melissa FuossInvasive Species by Ellery Adams (Available on Kindle Unlimited)The Secret Book & Scone SocietyBook Retreat MysteriesPie Shoppe SeriesStone Blind by Natalie HaynesJennifer SaintMadeline MillerAftertaste by Daria LavelleShark Heart by Emily HabeckShark Heart podcast episodeEllery’s Book RxDiavola by Jennifer ThorneThe Haunting of Hill House by Shirley JacksonSomething Wicked This Way Comes by Ray BradburyThe Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten MillerThe Change by Kirsten MillerVictorian Psycho by Virginia FeitoObsessionWeaponsBookshop.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 Ellery Adams on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Leigh Radford joins our October Book Club to discuss One Yellow Eye, a haunting novel that explores love, grief, and survival in the aftermath of a pandemic.This week on Book Gang, we’re joined by Leigh Radford, whose haunting debut One Yellow Eye is our October pick for the MomAdvice Book Club. In this genre-bending debut, Radford weaves her personal journey of loss into a haunting story of a scientist, Kesta, whose devotion to her husband pushes the boundaries of science, ethics, and the human heart.We explore how horror fiction can expose the hidden costs of caregiving, the complexities of grief, and the fierce hope that keeps us moving forward—even when the world feels unrecognizable. Join us for a gorgeous conversation that goes beyond scares and excavates the messy, unbreakable bonds that make us human.In this week’s episode, we discuss:📚Blurring Boundaries: Genre, Publishing, and the Art of Defying Labels: Leigh shares the real-world complexities of bringing a genre-bending novel to market. From conflicting advice on editing and cover design to the challenges of positioning a book that sits between literary fiction and horror, we discuss how One Yellow Eye’s unique identity created both obstacles and opportunities—from the UK to the US—and what it’s like to navigate a publishing landscape that often resists stories that don’t fit neatly into a single box.📚 Writing, Caregiving, and the Birth of a Novel in Crisis: Leigh opens up about how caring for her terminally ill father during the pandemic didn’t just inspire her horror novel—it transformed it into an intimate meditation on love and the unseen burdens of caretaking. We explore how Leigh’s personal grief and resilience, coupled with her desire to honor her father’s memory, became the emotional core of this engrossing debut.📚 The Humanity in Horror: Turning Fear into Connection: Leigh examines how horror, at its best, can be a mirror for our deepest vulnerabilities, allowing us to explore the messy realities of love, loss, and ethical choice. We discuss why discomfort on the page can spark empathy, how horror reveals the hidden costs of survival and devotion, and why stories that unsettle us are sometimes the ones that linger.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list features 16 Zombie Books to Try This Spooky Season that play with those blurred lines between humanity and monstrosity. Patrons of the show will receive a printable list to take to their local library and a bonus spoiler chat with Leigh Radford, where we dig deeper into the ethical and emotional questions at the heart of One Yellow Eye.Meet Leigh RadfordLeigh Radford trained as a broadcast journalist before producing and presenting arts and entertainment content for commercial radio, Time Out, The Times, and The Sun. She has made documentaries for the BBC, including Rilke’s Women for Radio 4. A former book publicist, she is a 2023 graduate of Faber Academy and the founder of Kenosha Kickers, her film and television production company. One Yellow Eye is her debut novel, available now wherever books are sold.Mentioned in this episode: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 October 29th 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%.SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 16 Zombie Books to Try This Spooky Season One Yellow Eye by Leigh RadfordCarrie by Stephen KingMisery by Stephen KingFrankenstein by Mary ShelleyVictorian Psycho by Virginia FeitoMrs March by Virginia FeitoShaun of the DeadLucy SteedsWhen the Wolf Comes Home by Nat CassidyLeigh’s Youtube 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 Leigh Radford on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Can love survive if only one person remembers? Evann Normandin joins Book Gang to share how The Good Parts explores memory, healing, and the cost of letting go.What if you could forget your greatest heartache—would you do it? Today we’re joined by Evann Normandin, whose debut, The Good Parts, is a hauntingly beautiful meditation on memory, trauma, and a love story that refuses to be erased.When Rose takes a pill to erase her most painful memories, she loses not only her grief but every trace of the love she once shared with Landon. As Landon tries to rekindle their connection, they both discover that love and memory are never so easily erased. Evann draws from her studies in traumatic memory—and a real-life love letter—to ask one unforgettable question: Can love survive if only one person remembers it?In this week’s episode, we discuss:📚 Writing, Rejection, and the Road to Publication: Evann shares the long journey behind her “overnight success”—from trunk novels to querying, agent switches, and finally, a book deal that went to auction. We’ll talk about the resilience every writer needs, and why every story—even the ones that don’t sell—matters.📚NetGalley Insights: How early reader feedback shaped the marketing and genre positioning of The Good Parts, and what Evann learned from reader expectations, especially when penning a love story.📚 Memory, Trauma, and Healing: Evann reveals how her academic fascination with traumatic memory shaped the speculative premise of The Good Parts, and why she believes stories can help us bear witness to each other’s pain and joy—even when the truth is fragmented or rewritten.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list features18 Books Where Memory Shapes the Story. From forgetting pills and amnesia to the complex world of dementia, memory takes readers on some mind-bending adventures! Patrons of the show will receive a printable book list to take to their local library and a bonus spoiler episode with Evann Normandin as we discuss The Good Parts ending.Meet Evann NormandinEvann Normandin is a writer with a career in educational publishing. She studied English and Theatre at Middlebury College, then earned her MSc in modern and postmodern literature at the University of Edinburgh. After a stint as a theatre critic for BroadwayWorld in Washington, DC, she moved to Massachusetts, where she lives in a small, quirky town that inspires her daily. When she’s not working or writing, she’s exploring New England with her husband and son. The Good Parts is now available on store shelves.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)BOOK CLUB PODCAST FOR SEPTEMBER: DAVID JOY INTERVIEW (THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW)FREE BONUS BOOK LIST:18 Books Where Memory Shapes the StoryBook Talk, etc: Appalachian Authors EpisodeThe Good Parts by Evann NormandinThe Things They Carried by Tim O’BrienThe Last Five Years by Jason Robert BrownThe Last Five YearsSeveranceThe Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. SchwabEternal Sunshine Of the Spotless MindAbby Offsides by Anna McCallieAssassin’s Anonymous by Rob HartThe Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der KolkCathy CaruthGrand Central’s Book Club GuideBookshop.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 Evann Normandin on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Ashton Lattimore joins us to discuss Runner, her soapy, escapist historical adventure set on Prohibition-era Martha’s Vineyard, where secrets, danger, and ambition collide.This week on Book Gang, I’m joined by Ashton Lattimore, whose new novel Runner is a standout historical adventure that brings Prohibition-era Martha’s Vineyard to life. Ashton shares the real-life shipwreck that planted the seed for her story, the meticulous research behind her 1920s language and setting, and how she balances soapy drama with hard-hitting history. If you love novels where you learn something new while being swept away by twists and secrets, this episode is for you.In this week’s episode, we discuss:📚 Language, Landmarks, and Lingo: How do you make the Roaring Twenties feel brand new? Ashton shares her process of resurrecting the era with vivid period language, historical landmarks, and the daily rituals that anchor her characters in time and place. Ashton shares her tricks for finding the right word, her favorite hidden gems from the era, and why slipping in “old-timey” lingo and fun facts is more than historical window dressing.📚 The Real Black History Behind Runner: Discover how a mysterious 1923 shipwreck off Martha’s Vineyard inspired Ashton Lattimore’s riveting tale. Ashton takes us into the island's lesser-known Black maritime history, revealing a world where whalers, fishermen, and smugglers navigated not just the perils of the sea, but also racial boundaries, discrimination, and the urgent need for community survival.📚 Class, Crime, and Complicated Women: Runner is more than a story about rumrunners—it’s a sharp exploration of class, crime, and what it took for Black women to survive and thrive in the 1920s. We dig into the novel’s rich cast: from Lena, risking everything to save her family, to Dee, balancing privilege and vulnerability, to matriarchs wrestling with their own choices and regrets. Ashton opens up about navigating the tensions between Boston’s Black elite and the working-class locals.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list isUncorking 18 Prohibition Books— A Toast to Bookish Bathtub Gin—books full of secrets, danger, and unforgettable characters chasing dreams in the Roaring Twenties. Patrons of the show will receive a printable checklist to take to their local library and a bonus spoiler episode with Ashton Lattimore.Meet Ashton LattimoreAshton Lattimore is an award-winning author, journalist, and former lawyer. Her debut novel, All We Were Promised, was a Book of the Month Club pick, a Washington Post and NPR Best Book of 2024, and one of People magazine’s Best New Books for April 2024. Lattimore also received the First Novelist Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Prism, The Preamble, Slate, CNN, Essence, and elsewhere. She’s a native of New Jersey, where she lives with her husband and two sons.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)BOOK CLUB PODCAST FOR SEPTEMBER: DAVID JOY INTERVIEW (THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW)FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: Uncorking 18 Prohibition Books— A Toast to Bookish Bathtub GinRunner by Ashton LattimoreAll We Were Promised by Ashton LattimoreJohn Dwight shipwreckOxford English Dictionary Historical ThesaurusShearer CottageHighland BeachAshton’s InstaCaptain William MartinMaud Cuney HareThe Quarter Queen by Kayla HardyMartha’s Vineyard Black Book FestivalBookshop.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 Ashton Lattimore on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Julie Buntin joins us to discuss Famous Men, a literary page-turner about a young woman’s struggle with power and identity during her college years.This week on Book Gang, we’re joined by Julie Buntin, whose new novel Famous Men plunges us into the heart of literary ambition, tangled mentorships, and the shadows that linger from girlhood into adulthood. Through candid storytelling and sharp insight, Julie unpacks the inspiration behind her groundbreaking new work, what drew her to the hallowed halls of campus settings, and how she writes into the gray areas of power and agency.Famous Men traces the story of Will, a young woman shaped by family secrets and the gaze of powerful men. As Will moves from an oppressive childhood to the lure of literary circles and a complicated mentorship with a celebrated older writer, Buntin explores the aftermath of exploitation, the murkiness of agency, and the search for meaning in identity. This novel refuses easy answers and invites readers to reckon with the uncomfortable spaces where self-knowledge is finally forged. For readers who want to hear from a writer who prioritizes craft, this episode is for you!In this week’s episode, we discuss:📚 Writing Through Life’s Upheavals: Julie opens up about the nine-year journey between her debut and Famous Men, reflecting on how motherhood, shifting priorities, and the realities of publishing shaped her creative process. She discusses the challenges of returning to a manuscript after life-changing events, and how the evolving literary landscape—less media coverage, more grassroots reader communities—has transformed what it means to connect with an audience.📚 The Power of Setting: Julie reflects on why campus novels—and the charged spaces of creative writing programs—continue to fascinate her as both writer and reader. She shares what’s unique about academic environments, how they incubate both ambition and vulnerability, and why they’re the perfect crucible for stories about coming of age and questionable mentorships.📚 Power, Vulnerability, and Retrospective Voice: At Famous Men’s core is Will—a narrator whose sharp self-awareness is complicated by the forces that shape, trap, and sometimes free her. Julie discusses the delicate craft of writing a character who is both in control and deeply lost, and how the novel resists simple narratives of victimhood or complicity.BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list offers readers 18 novels set in schools, giving you fresh worlds to explore in academia. I’m astounded by how many new releases have back-to-school energy, and I hope you enjoy browsing these selections. Patrons of the show will receive a printable book list and a bonus spoiler chat with Julie.Meet Julie BuntinJulie Buntin‘s new novel, Famous Men, is out now from Random House. Her debut, Marlena, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, released in ten territories worldwide, and named a best book of the year by over a dozen outlets, including The Washington Post, NPR, and Kirkus Reviews. She is the co-editor of Notes to New Mothers, a collection of dispatches from postpartum life by sixty writers and artists. Previously, Buntin was an editor and director of writing programs at Catapult. Now, she writes and teaches in Ann Arbor, where she is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)BOOK CLUB PODCAST FOR SEPTEMBER: DAVID JOY INTERVIEW (THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW)NEW BOOK LIST: 18 NEW NOVELS SET IN SCHOOLSFamous Men by Julie BuntinMarlena by Julie BuntinNotes to New Mothers by Rebecca Knight & Julie BuntinLucian FreudMeghann StephensonAna Luisa CorriganThe Animators by Kayla Ray WhitakerReturns and Exchanges by Kayla Ray WhitakerThe Good Mother Myth by Nancy Reddy nfMacDowellZuckerman Unbound by Philip RothContrapposto by Dave EggersLet Us Now Praise Famous Men by James Agee & Walker EvansMarion by Leah RowanHalf a Life by Jill CimentConsent by Jill CimentLife with Picasso by Francois Gilot & Carlton LakeThe Woman Upstairs by Claire MessudTrust Exercise by Susan ChoiMy Education by Susan ChoiConnect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Julie Buntin on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

David Joy joins our September Book Club to discuss Those We Thought We Knew, a powerful novel about the fractures and reckonings in contemporary Appalachia.Today, I’m honored to welcome renowned storyteller David Joy to Book Gang for a searching, unflinching conversation about Those We Thought We Knew, our September Book Club selection for the MomAdvice Book Club. David brings sharp honesty and lived experience as he examines the histories, power structures, and personal reckonings that shaped his fifth novel. Together, we explore how the legacy of the South, the responsibilities of storytelling, and the risks of crossing boundaries animate both his work and his life.Those We Thought We Knew plunges us into a North Carolina mountain town wrestling with its past and present after the murder of a young Black artist. Through a chorus of voices—each rendered with nuance and empathy—Joy asks what it means to confront inherited stories, who gets to claim a place, and what’s lost or found when we finally face the truth.In this week’s thought-provoking episode, we discuss:📚 Writing Across Boundaries: David reflects on the long, winding road to Those We Thought We Knew, the decade the idea simmered, and the moment a real-life encounter cracked open the novel’s heart. We explore how he approached writing across lines of race, gender, and power—what it demands of the writer, what risks it carries, and why vulnerability and humility are at the center of authentic storytelling.📚 The Power and Responsibility of Perspective: We dig into the process of shaping a novel with six distinct voices, and the growth required to hold so many lives on the page at once. David shares how working with an authenticity reader challenged and deepened his portrayal of characters whose experiences differ from his own, and how constructive critique—not ego—can transform a story.📚 The Weight of History—Personal and Regional: Our conversation turns to the complexities of Southern identity, the pride and pain of inheritance, and how personal reckonings about race and history make their way from the dinner table to the page. David opens up about confronting family mythologies, the discomfort of unlearning, and the importance of sitting with hard truths.BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list is a deep dive on David Joy—featuring all five of his novels, his memoir, and books for understanding the Appalachian South. Discover more about Joy’s storytelling roots, recommended reads on the region, and more ways to get to know the voices shaping contemporary Southern literature.Meet David JoyA twelfth-generation North Carolinian, David Joy grew up along the Catawba River and has spent the last 22 years in the mountains of Jackson County. Place-driven and deeply rooted to Appalachia, his work has been translated into six languages. In 2023, his debut novel was adapted to film starring Billy Bob Thornton and Robin Wright. Joy is the author of five novels, including Those We Thought We Knew (winner of the 2023 Willie Morris Award and the 2023 Thomas Wolfe Prize), When These Mountains Burn (winner of the 2020 Dashiell Hammett Award), The Line That Held Us (winner of the 2018 Southern Book Prize), The Weight of This World, and Where All Light Tends to Go (Edgar finalist for Best First Novel). His stories and creative nonfiction have appeared in publications including Garden & Gun, The New York Times Magazine, and TIME. He is also the author of the memoir Growing Gills: A Fly Fisherman’s Journey and a coeditor of Gather at the River: Twenty-Five Authors on Fishing.Mentioned in this episode: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 September 24th 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%.SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)Those We Thought We Knew by David JoyWhere All Light Tends to Go by David JoySundays With WritersLarry BrownDaniel WoodrellRon RashHarry CrewsS.A. CosbyYour House Will Pay by Steph ChaWhen These Mountains Burn by David JoyAnnette Saunooke ClapsaddleSylva, NC MonumentDavid Joy speaks to Jackson County CommissionersAlexander StephensMarie CochranCrystal WilkinsonMegan AbbottLaura LippmanAce AtkinsQuinn Colson seriesBookshop.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 David Joy on Instagram or His WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter