The Book Was Better with Kayla

Kayla Shea

Join Kayla, the mind behind The Book Was Better on her brand new podcast where she talks about all things literature! With even deeper dives, special guests, and in-depth reviews, Kayla is all set to bring the BookTok community to the next level.

11 Episodes

Shawn's Debut Novel Became A Viral Sensation On TikTok | The Book Was Better With Kayla Ep. 10
9/27/2023
36:19
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
'YELLOWFACE' TACKLES WHITE PRIVILEGE IN THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 9
9/20/2023
21:05
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
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YOU NEED TO READ 'THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS AN EASY JOB' | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep 8
9/13/2023
31:28
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
'SHARP OBJECTS' BY GILLIAN FLYNN IS ETHEL CAIN APPROVED | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 7
9/6/2023
36:41
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
'PLAY IT AS IT LAYS' IS THE SAD GIRL BIBLE | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 6
8/30/2023
38:11
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
'IN THE DREAM HOUSE' IS A STRANGE MEMOIR UNLIKE ANY OTHER | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 5
8/23/2023
42:57
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
CHASING THE HIGH OF READING 'GONE GIRL' FOR THE FIRST TIME | Kayla Shea & Sydney | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 4
8/16/2023
38:41
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
SPENCER WILL NEVER GO TO 'THE HAUNTED HILL HOUSE' | Kayla Shea & Spencewuah | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 3
8/9/2023
38:51
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
HALEY JAKOBSON ON HER DEBUT NOVEL 'OLD ENOUGH' | Kayla Shea & Haley Jakobson | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 2
8/2/2023
45:49
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
HARRY STYLES WOULD HAVE PERISHED IN 'THE GREAT ALONE' | Kayla Shea | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 1
7/26/2023
34:15
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

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The Book Was Better with Kayla

Kayla Shea

11 Episodes

Shawn's Debut Novel Became A Viral Sensation On TikTok | The Book Was Better With Kayla Ep. 10

'YELLOWFACE' TACKLES WHITE PRIVILEGE IN THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 9

YOU NEED TO READ 'THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS AN EASY JOB' | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep 8

'SHARP OBJECTS' BY GILLIAN FLYNN IS ETHEL CAIN APPROVED | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 7

'PLAY IT AS IT LAYS' IS THE SAD GIRL BIBLE | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 6

'IN THE DREAM HOUSE' IS A STRANGE MEMOIR UNLIKE ANY OTHER | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 5

CHASING THE HIGH OF READING 'GONE GIRL' FOR THE FIRST TIME | Kayla Shea & Sydney | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 4

SPENCER WILL NEVER GO TO 'THE HAUNTED HILL HOUSE' | Kayla Shea & Spencewuah | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 3

HALEY JAKOBSON ON HER DEBUT NOVEL 'OLD ENOUGH' | Kayla Shea & Haley Jakobson | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 2

HARRY STYLES WOULD HAVE PERISHED IN 'THE GREAT ALONE' | Kayla Shea | The Book Was Better with Kayla Ep. 1