The Bookish Psychologist

CW: discussions of suicide, substance useIn this episode, we review the debut autofiction novel, Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis. We explore the defense mechanisms of the main character, discuss how passivity in relationships can play out, and the mind-body connection when dealing with chronic/terminal illness. We really enjoyed this book and hope you will enjoy this episode!

CW: discusisons of sexual assualt, violenceThe show is back! With a new twist! Welcome to the pod, our new co-host, Emily McGreevy! She joins Grace in this discussion of Heavenly Bodies, the first book in the romantsy series by Imani Erriu. We cover tropes common to the genre, trauma responses, and what our FMC could benefit from in therapy.

CW: suicidal ideation, suicideIn this episode, I review the first dark academia vampire book in the Immortal Dark series. This is my first episode where I don't recommend this book, but I do think it sparks an interesting conversation about mental health and suicide prevention. There was so much potential in the ideas for this book, which is what made it so disappointing when the execution wasn't there. If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please contact 988 or use their website to access a chat. National Action Alliance for Suicide PreventionCarmichael, V. & Whitley, R. (2018) Suicide portrayal in the Canadian media: examining newspaper coverage of the popular Netflix series ‘13 Reasons Why.’ BMC Public Health, 18, 1086. Https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5987-3Niederkrotenthaler, T., Kitchener, S., Till, B., Sinyor, M., Tran, U.S., Perkins, J., & Spittal, M.J. (2021). Systematic review and meta-analyses of suicidal outcomes following fictional portrayals of suicide and suicide attempt in entertainment media. EClinicalMedicine, 36. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100922 ⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

CW: eating disorders, OCD, addictionIn this episode, I review the 2022 memoir by former child star, Jennette McCurdy. It's a great read and I highly recommend it. McCurdy talks a lot about her mental health, so it makes for a launch pad for a conversation about these topics. I spend most of the episode discussing OCD and the myth that people living with OCD are just "neat freaks." International OCD Foundation ⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

Happy New Year! I took some time to reflect on all that I read in 2025 and present my best and worst reads of the year. Thankful for everyone who has listened and read along with me in the past year. Here's to many more reads and reviews in 2026!Anti-brain rot challenge by thestoryaintoverWebsite⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

CW: enslavement, sexual assaultIn this episode, I review the multi-award-winning novel, James by Percival Everett. This book is a loose retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but told from the perspective of Jim, an enslaved man owned by Huck Finn's guardian. James becomes a fully realized character in this novel, and there is a lot to discuss from a psychological perspective. I use Gestalt theory to explore James and his character development. ⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram

First bonus episode! Bonus eps will be focused on book adaptations, so it's fitting that the first one is the newest version of Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein. There are some great examples of defense mechanisms and unconscious drives from this movie. I really enjoyed it and hope you will enjoy my review as well!⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram

Note: this episode will discuss the anti-vaccine movement and political misinformation.Ever heard of Andrew Wakefield? He's infamous in the anti-vaxx movement, mostly for a now debunked study that suggested the measles vaccine caused developmental disorders in children. Deer chronicles Wakefield's life, his initial studies, and his descent into infamy, no matter the consequences. In my review, I discuss some takeaways from the book and some psychological factors that contribute to why we, as humans, engage in misinformation. Article used in episode: Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2021). The psychology of fake news. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 25(5), 388–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2021.02.007⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram

CW: discussions of suicideThis week's review is for the dark academic epic by R.F. Kuang. I discuss how intersectionality applies to the main characters, give some advice that might have helped them out, and rate the book on my two scales. WebsiteInstagram

CW: death of a childBarbara Van Laar is a neglected 12-year-old girl, living in the shadow of her brother who disappeared before she was born. Now she is finally allowed to attend the summer camp run on her rich parent’s sprawling Adirondack preserve. However, when she also goes missing, everyone becomes a suspect. Set between several different converging timelines, this book uncovers dark family secrets, complicated romances, and the harsh reality of living as a woman in the late 20th century. Through this book, I discuss feminist psychology, the way that capitalism and patriarchy impact people's development, and give some advice to some of my favorite characters in the book.