Chapter 16: Seven Days in June

Dropping in with another spoiler-free episode for y'all! This one is all about my favorite (and least favorite!) recent reads. This list is pretty dated now as I recorded this a while ago so I will do an updated episode soon. I have read some absolute bangers lately that I really want to share. I also have a book vs. series adaptation episode coming your way as well as some audiobook recs. It's been a long time since I last uploaded and I'm so excited to be sharing some content with y'all. Hope you enjoy! Where to find me: https://linktr.ee/BookedSolid

New content, who dis? We're going to be trying something new on the Booked Solid feed - short form, SPOILER-FREE, content! All of the information about this new series can be found at the beginning of this episode as well as important updates about season 3. For the first episode of this "short stories" series I will be discussing some of my favorite Greek mythology retellings plus a few that I'm eager to read. It was impossible to list all of them in one episode, so let me know if you'd like a part 2! So excited to share this new content with y'all! Where to find us: https://linktr.ee/BookedSolid Donation of the Week: Relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Fiona can be found by clicking on the links provided.

In this week’s episode I’m joined by Jainny from @jainnyreads to discuss Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades. Spoiler alert - this book is absolutely incredible and this was such a fun and special episode to record. This novel resonated so deeply with both Jainny and myself, and we dive deep into everything we loved as well as our own experiences as Brown Girls. If you haven’t read it yet, PLEASE do yourself the favor.  P.S. An update on this season can be found here. Where to find us Donation of the Week: #HappyPeriod, a Black-led nonprofit dedicated to providing menstrual hygiene products to those in need as well as advocating for menstrual health education.

In this week’s episode I am joined by Moe from @readingwithmoe to chat about Nobody’s Magic by Destiny O. Birdsong. Following the lives of three Black women with albinism, this breathtaking novel is told in three parts and features compelling and unforgettable characters. We’ll be discussing the nuance of each woman’s story, the role the title plays in the novel, and all the ways in which this novel grasped at our emotions. Where to find us Donation of the Week: The Trevor Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing support and crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth.

Surprise! In today’s bonus episode I am joined by Kara Thomas, author of The Cheerleaders, That Weekend, and more to chat about her writing process, true crime, and which literary tropes we are ready to say goodbye to. I’m so excited to have Kara on the show (you can find my gushy review of two of her novels here) and her latest novel, That Weekend is available in paperback today!  Where to find us Content warning: We briefly discuss true crime and topics related to it (i.e. missing persons, psychological trauma, etc) are mentioned.

In today’s episode I am joined by Élaina of Bookshelf Remix (another amazing book review podcast that you need to check out if you haven’t already!) to chat about Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke. Written entirely in slack messages between employees, this was definitely a unique read. We’ll be discussing what it means to be human, how technology plays a role in answering that question, and how a robot tells you when it’s full.  Also! As you may have already seen, Élaina and I host a Gilmore Girls analysis podcast together called Women of Questionable Morals. We discuss many different themes/characters/whatever pops into our heads and often feature voice memos and comments from our listeners. If you too are a major Gilmore Girls fan please send us your thoughts/opinions over on our instagram or at [email protected] and be sure to check out our show! ☕️  Where to find us: https://linktr.ee/BookedSolid Donation of the Week: A list of fundraisers to support the families of the Uvalde and Tulsa Medical Center mass shooting victims can be found by clicking on the links provided. Additional information about how to advocate for gun control and end gun violence can be found here.

For this week’s episode I’m joined by Tabitha from @bookmarkedbytab to chat about Brit Bennet’s debut novel, The Mothers. This book was especially exciting as The Vanishing Half was one our debut episodes, and Brit Bennett is beloved around these parts. We’ll be discussing the role the title plays in the novel, the major disappointment that is Luke’s character, and the complexity of Aubrey and Nadia’s friendship.  Content Warning: This book deals with sensitive themes such as assault, abortion, and suicide. We do not go into detail, but we do reference these topics a few times throughout the episode. Where to find us: https://linktr.ee/BookedSolid Donation of the Week: A list of fundraisers to support the families of the Buffalo mass shooting victims can be found here.

Wahala means trouble and oh do these girls get into it! In these week’s episode I’m joined by Jade from @goodreadswithjade to discuss Nikki May’s debut novel. Described as an Anglo-Nigerian Sex and the City, we definitely had high hopes for this one. We’ll be chatting about Isobel’s perplexing motivations, how on earth these girls are friends with each other, and why Didier is the true MVP. Where to find us Donation of the Week: Black Girls Code, a non-profit dedicated to providing young Black girls with equal access, opportunity, and exposure to STEM focused technical careers.

Season 3 is in full swing! Today I’m joined by bookstagrammer Liz from @anotherreaderaccount to discuss Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. This book was something ELSE and let me just say that I finally understand the hype. We’ll be chatting about the complexity of Eva and Shane’s relationship, the precocious wonder that is Audre, and the sound advice from RuPaul that we all need to follow. Where to find us Donation of the Week: A list of over 30 organizations to support Ukraine can be found here.

Remember that big news I said would be coming soon? Well, it’s here! I present to you, Women of Questionable Morals (if you know, you know!) a Gilmore Girls analysis podcast created/hosted by myself and Élaina from @bookshelfremix. We could not be more excited about this and can’t wait to share it with y’all. Be sure to follow/subscribe for updates! If you have any episodes or themes that you’d like to see us cover, send us an email at [email protected]. Where to find us: https://linktr.ee/BookedSolid https://linktr.ee/WomenofQuestionableMorals