The Book Was Better with Kayla

On this episode of The Book Was Better With Kayla, Kayla sits down to talk with Shawn Warner who went viral on TikTok this year after TikToker Red posted a video of him at a book signing event for his book - Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor. Shawn has since appeared on the Today Show and sales for his book have skyrocketed. Shawn talks about his sudden exposure to fame and shares his advice for up and coming writers. Kayla: IG / TikTok Shawn: IG / TikTok

On this episode of The Book Was Better With Kayla, Kayla talks about her favorite book of the year, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang and which touches on the perils of the publishing industry, white privilege and why controversy sells. She also shares the heartwarming story of Oliver James who’s learning to read with BookTok!  Kayla: IG / TikTok

On this episode of The Book Was Better With Kayla, Kayla @_thebookwasbetter sits down with Nicole, aka @Nicolereads to talk about There’s No Such Thing As An Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumara and the importance of reading books translated from other languages. They discuss favorites of the year and give each other some weird, wild and unconventional book recommendations for their next TBR list. Kayla: IG / TikTok

On this episode of The Book Was Better With Kayla, Kayla sits down with Bridget, aka Bridgetish to talk about how Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn made them both huge fans of a good plot twist. Bridget talks about her favorite and least favorite book covers and Kayla learns that Booktokers can in fact, request Advanced Reader Copies for the books they want to read! Life hack unlocked.  Kayla: IG / TikTok

On this episode of The Book Was Better With Kayla, Kayla talks to fellow BookToker Lauren aka @BigBookLady about 'Play As It Lays' by Joan Didion and its impact on the rise of the tragic female protagonist. They discuss their favorite book adaptations and tell us why they’d be driving their friends crazy if it wasn’t for TikTok.  Kayla: IG / TikTok Lauren: IG / TikTok

On this episode of The Book Was Better With Kayla, Kayla talks to fellow BookToker Nic, aka @bookbinch about ‘In The Dream House' by Carmen Maria Machado, a standout queer memoir that changed the game. Nic gives us a list of his favorite weird books you need on your bookshelf and reveals that he’s gearing up to be an author himself!  Kayla: IG / TikTok Nic: TikTok

On this episode of The Book Was Better With Kayla, Kayla talks to fellow BookToker Sydney, @sydneyyybooks about how Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn has the best unreliable narrator of all time and why thrillers are their favorite genre. They share insights on their reading habits, BookTok icks, and discuss their most anticipated books of the year! Kayla: IG / TikTok Sydney: IG / TikTok

On this very special episode of The Book Was Better With Kayla, Kayla talks to Spencer about his love for the Haunting Of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, its hit Netflix adaptation, how Shirley’s writing was beyond her time and a BookTok controversy that’s been taking over TikTok. Together they’ll answer the most important question: Was the book better?  Kayla: IG / TikTok Spencewuah: ⁠IG⁠ / ⁠TikTok⁠

On this very special episode of The Book Was Better With Kayla, Kayla talks to THE Haley Jakobson about her debut novel, 'Old Enough’ - it's astounding success, coping with and writing about trauma, and her realest advice for writers who want to be discovered. They dream cast the show adaptation of the book and manifest that Emma Seligman directs, so she can come back to the show and discuss if the book was better! Kayla: IG / TikTok Haley: IG / TikTok

On the very first episode of The Book Was Better With Kayla, Kayla Shea talks about her love for The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, and how Booktok has made reading cool again. She is joined by her manager Brian Delaurenti who helps her figure out if Harry Styles would be able to survive in the Alaskan wilderness in The Great Alone, if Zac Efron would’ve made a good Gatsby (No <3) and together they answer the most important question: Was the book better? Kayla: IG / TikTok