Niko Maragos is a makeup artist and writer. He's drawn to deep, difficult reads—and his taste sometimes means that reading can feel like work, for better or for worse. To meet the challenge, we try to find books that are intellectual and compelling. On this week’s episode, we learn some shocking news about eyebrow trends, plus recommend some books for people who loved Circe or Detransition Baby.

The guest: Niko Maragos

The picks:

The Ingenious Language by Andrea Marcolongo

Green Girl by Kate Zambreno

The World Does Not Require You by Rion Amilcar Scott

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

Wake Siren by Nina MacLaughlin 

Strip: Poems by Jessica Abughattas

SPOILER ALERT! The winning bookstore is For Keeps, which doesn’t typically sell new books. You should check out their store, however, especially their amazing merch.

Where to find us:

Find our show online at blinddatewithabookpod.com and @bookmeetcute on Twitter and Instagram. You can sign up for our newsletter here, where we do bonus recs for subscribers! Please follow and tell us all the books you've fallen in love with recently.

This Episode’s Featured Bookstores:

Beaverdale Books in Des Moines, IA

For Keeps in Atlanta, GA

Papercuts JP in Boston, MA

Where to find us:

Twitter

Instagram

For More Information

Episode 5: Show notes

A senior TV writer at Refinery29, Ariana Romero should be your your go-to person for enthusiastic show recommendations and thoughtful takes on TV's latest on and off-screen drama. She specializes in streaming TV, reality shows like The Bachelor, and Latinx-led entertainment. She loves brunch, does not love classic books, and could give an on-the-spot TED talk about how everything, yes everything, is actually a soap opera. In the show, we talk books like The Bachelor, telenovelas, and why romance novels might induce jealousy (it's a thing).

The guest: Ariana Romero

The picks:

You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria

Sea Monster by Chloe Aridjis

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams

The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodrigues

Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

This episode’s featured bookstores:

A Room of One’s Own Bookstore in Madison, WI.

Words Bookstore in Maplewood, NJ

Ebenezer Books in Johnson, VT

Where to find us:

Twitter

Instagram

For More Information

Episode 4: Show notes

A humor writer and editor for McSweeney’s, Lucy Huber loves pop culture, summer weather, and the kind of reads that pair well with a beach umbrella. We talk audiobooks versus podcasts, what it’s like to edit for one of the most popular humor sites out there, and finding time to read after having a baby.

The guest: Lucy Huber

The picks:

All Adults Here by Emma Straub

Chemistry by Weike Wang

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Sutanto

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

The Red Car by Marcy Dermansky 

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

Bonus Books Mentioned:

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Reid Jenkins (Audio)

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (Audio)

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

This Episode’s Featured Bookstores:

The Ripped Bodice in Culver City, CA

Malaprops Bookstore in Asheville, NC

Porter Square Books in Cambridge, MA

Plus, you can support your local bookstore (or The Ripped Bodice) through LibroFM if you like audiobooks

Where to find us:

Twitter

Instagram

For More Information

Rachel was thrilled to have Isle McElroy on the podcast to chat about bagels and bookstores, plus cults and more. Their debut novel, The Atmospherians debuted in 2021. The Atmospherian is a satire which follows a cult to reform problematic men.

(Please note that this episode was recorded using a different first name for the author.)

Isle’s reading recommendations:

Kids These Days by Malcolm Harris

You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine by Alexandra Kleeman 

The Answers by Catherine Lacey 

Darryl by Jackie Ess 

All links today go to their favorite Houston, TX indie bookstore: Brazos. Check out Isle's novel, The Atmospherians, and connect with them on Twitter. You can find more about Blind Date for a Book on Twitter or Instagram as well. 

This is Blind Date With a Book, the podcast that matches guests up with their literary soulmates using dating app questions. In each episode, hosts Kristen Evans, Rachel Mans McKenny, and Elena Nicolaou go head-to-head to give the best recommendation. 

The guest: Chris Gonzalez, author of the forthcoming collection I'm Not Hungry but I Could Eat

The picks:

The End by Fernanda Torres

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor

Stay Up with Hugo Best by Erin Somers

Ayoade on Top by Richard Ayoade

Cars on Fire by Monica Ramon Rios 

We Eat Our Own by Kea Wilson

You can order all of these by contacting Two Dollar Radio HQ directly! https://twodollarradiohq.com/contact/

They also have a book subscription service for “blind date” style books! https://twodollarradiohq.com/memberships/

Where to find us:

Find our show online at blinddatewithabookpod.com and @bookmeetcute on Twitter and Instagram. Please follow and tell us all the books you've fallen in love with recently.

Apologies for the editing weirdness in the first few minutes! I promise, the juice is worth the squeeze. 

Rachel talks with Julia Fine about her new novel, The Upstairs House, writing about two historical literary figures, tattoos, and more. 

The books recommended in this episode:

Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened By the Moon by Leonard S. Marcus

Who Tells Me True by Michael Strange

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Find Julia Fine on her website or on Twitter. Catch up with Blind Date with a Book on Twitter, Instagram, or our website. Until next time, keep reading!

This is Blind Date With a Book, the podcast that matches guests up with their literary soulmates using dating app questions. In each episode, hosts Kristen Evans, Rachel Mans McKenny, and Elena Nicolaou go head-to-head to give the best recommendation. This week’s show also features a discussion of Moby Dick in quarantine and what it’s like to be in tech today.

The guest: Carrie Tian

The picks:

Where to find us:

Find our show online at blinddatewithabookpod.com and @bookmeetcute on Twitter and Instagram. Please follow and tell us all the books you've fallen in love with. 

Kristen Evans: Twitter @paperalphabet,

Rachel Mans McKenney: Twitter @rmmckenny, Instagram @rachelmansmckenney

Elena Nicolaou: Twitter @elenawonders, Instagram @booksandelena

Carrie Tian: Twitter @carrietian, Website https://carrietian.com/

This is Blind Date With a Book, the podcast that matches guests up with their literary soulmates using dating app questions. In each episode, hosts Kristen Evans, Rachel Mans McKenney, and Elena Nicolaou go head-to-head to give the best recommendation. 

The guest: Alexa Nicolaou

The picks:

Where to find us:

Kristen Evans: Twitter @paperalphabet,  

Rachel Mans McKenney: Twitter @rmmckenny, Instagram @rachelmansmckenney

Elena Nicolaou: Twitter @elenawonders, Instagram @booksandelena

This is Blind Date With a Book, the podcast that matches guests up with their literary soulmates using dating app questions.