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Debut novelist Crystal Smith Paul joins the podcast to discuss her historical fiction book, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?, and her top historical fiction book recommendations for your summer.

Historical fiction lovers, you do not want to miss this fascinating discussion about some of your favorite books and some details on upcoming 2023 historical fiction book releases. 

Today's interview with Crystal Smith Paul offers a peek behind the curtains at the creation of the riveting debut novel, "Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?”, soon to hit store shelves on May 2nd from Henry Holt & Company. 

The novel explores impactful themes such as colorism and the generational trauma of racism in the U.S. In the interview, Crystal will discuss her research on these themes and what message she hopes readers take away from Kitty's fictional story. The true story that inspired many of these fictional characters should not be missed today.

Learn about Paul's rich background that lent itself well to Kitty's Hollywood backstory, how she approached this dual-timeline narrative, and the most significant challenges she faced with writing and publishing. 

Editor's Note: Since recording this interview, Crystal Smith Paul was selected as the May Reese's Book Club Pick and a May BOTM selection. Congratulations to our guest!

Don’t miss Crystal’s favorite books in today's bonus book list with the best historical fiction books for your summer that include some of the most anticipated books of the summer season! I round out our discussion with some intriguing trivia about these incredible selections featured today. 

Meet Crystal Smith Paul

Crystal Smith Paul attended Spelman College and UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and received her master’s in journalism from NYU. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in Salon, Jezebel, and HuffPost. She currently works in digital marketing for wellness and beauty brands. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is her first novel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including author interviews and curated book lists. And if you're a fan of the show, sharing it with just one friend, leaving a like, or leaving a review can go a long way in helping the podcast reach new listeners. 

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? By Crystal Smith Paul

Normal Family by Chrysta Bilton

Mom Advice Book Club

Normal Family Book Chat

A Chosen Exile by Allyson Hobbs

Passing by Nessa Larsen

The Autobiography of An Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson

Imitation of Life

Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Mary Jane McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) 

Q&A with The Personal Librarian Co-Authors Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray | Penguin Random House Audio

The Celebrity Book Club Deep Dive Episode You Need

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Powell's Books Interview - Yaa Gyasi, Author of Homegoing

Cape Coast Castle in Ghana

When Adults Banned Their Books, These Teens Fought Back By Organizing by The Defector

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph

The Picaresque Life of and 18th Century Black English Polymath by the NYT

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Crystal Smith Paul on her Website or Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Join the MomAdvice Book Club

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SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!

Hit the open road with these books about road trips. Let's hop in the getaway car and learn what it takes to write a great Thelma and Louise story with Colleen Oakley.

Do you love road trip books? In today's show, we will go on a wildly entertaining road trip with a college dropout and an eighty-four-year-old woman on the run from the law.

Today’s Book Gang podcast features an interview with Colleen Oakley discussing her feisty new novel, The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, which pays tribute to the iconic movie Thelma & Louise. 

Colleen shares how she aimed to capture various aspects of the film in her story and how her research on police work and investigations informed the development of the missing person case and jewelry heist in the book. 

We also discuss what it takes to write about two very different generations and why she included Tanner's struggles with chronic pain in her story. 

Don’t miss Colleen’s favorite books about road trips in today’s bonus book list with a few of my favorite adventures on the open road. We have included joyful stories, thought-provoking adventures, and nonfiction memoirs for your best armchair travel escape. 

Meet Colleen Oakley  

Colleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of five novels, including The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, You Were There Too, Close Enough to Touch, and Before I Go. 

Her books have been translated into more than 20 languages worldwide, lauded by numerous magazines, including People, Us Weekly, Library Journal, and Real Simple, and won multiple awards, including Georgia Author of the Year. 

Her newest novel THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF TANNER & LOUISE, is a GMA Buzz Pick, the April 2023 selection of the Reader's Digest Book Club, the Marie Claire #ReadWithMC Book Club, a LibraryReads pick, and was named a most anticipated book for 2023 by The Today Show, Southern Living, The AJC, NerdDaily, SheReads and more. 

A former magazine editor for Women's Health & Fitness and Marie Claire, Colleen lives in Atlanta with her husband, four children, a flock of chickens, and a mutt named Baxter.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including author interviews and curated book lists. And if you're a fan of the show, sharing it with just one friend, leaving a like, or leaving a review can go a long way in helping the podcast reach new listeners. 

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley

The BEST BOOKS ABOUT ROAD TRIPS Bonus Book List 

Normal Family by Chrysta Bilton

MomAdvice Book Club

Normal Family Book Chat

Fables Books

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley

Before I Go by Colleen Oakley

Thelma and Louise

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Stardew Valley

The Last Of Us

Rose the Prude - Golden Girls

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

The Long Way Back by Nicole Baart

Side Trip by Kerry Lonsdale

Rebecca’s Book Reviews

Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

A Day in the Life of a Book Publicist

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Connect With Us:

Connect with Colleen Oakley on her Website or Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Join the MomAdvice Book Club

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!

Looking for the best book club books for a thought-provoking chat? These book club picks are page-turners curated by historical fiction writer Meagan Church.  

Mark Twain once said, "History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Meagan Church is here to explore those exact rhythms in her stunning debut,  The Last Carolina Girl, published by Sourcebooks this week. 

This captivating coming-of-age story set in 1935 North Carolina follows the story of Leah, an orphan sent to live with the wealthy Griffin family, where she experiences mistreatment and hardship. Against the backdrop of North Carolina's eugenics board, the novel delves into themes of poverty, power, and body autonomy. It's a must-read for historical fiction fans looking for a book that will leave them thinking long after they've turned the last page.

Meagan’s heart-wrenching novel was inspired by the real-life story of her great-aunt, who was forcibly sterilized in Indiana. Through her book, Meagan shares the research she uncovered into the United States' history with eugenics, shedding light on a complex and difficult topic with a rich history in North Carolina. Reading this book will be incredibly eye-opening for many readers- it certainly was for me.

In addition to discussing her writing process, Meagan shares her top book club picks for the best conversation starters on the podcast. Thanks to the support of Patreon members, listeners have access to a bonus curated list of 13 of the best books to spark a great conversation with the titles she highly recommends for impactful conversations. 

We discuss what makes a good book for discussion and curate the perfect book club selections, including our favorite books from many voices in literary fiction, nonfiction, and historical fiction. 

Meagan Church is a writer passionate about uncovering overlooked stories and bringing unheard voices to light. Her writing reflects her desire to explore the nuances of who we are and to chronicle the plight and fight of those silenced by history. She received a B.A. in English from Indiana University and has built a successful career as a storyteller and freelance writer for brands, blogs, and organizations. She currently lives in North Carolina with her family.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including author interviews and curated book lists. And if you're a fan of the show, sharing it with just one friend, leaving a like, or leaving a review can go a long way in helping the podcast reach new listeners. 

The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church

Book Club Book Article

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

A Quiet Life Book Chat with MomAdvice Book Club

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary

Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

The Stuff of Lasting Friendship: The Millions Interviews Jessica Francis Kane

A Semi-Radical Plan to Maintain Friendships in Your 30s, 40s and Beyond on Slate

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

The Celebrity Book Club Deep Dive Episode You Need

Brit Bennett on Publishing The Vanishing Half During the George Floyd Protests on Vox

Radium Girls by Kate Moore

The Poisoner’s Handbook on PBS

The Poisoner’s Handbook on Hoopla

The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum

The Woman They Could not Silence by Kate Moore

The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

11 Facts About Judy Blume’s ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ on Mental Floss

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Connect With Us:

Connect with Meagan on Instagram or her website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Join the MomAdvice Book Club

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!

Join us for an episode of mind-bending time travel exploration with award-nominated novelist and screenwriter Cesca Major. 

In this episode, Cesca discusses her US debut novel, Maybe Next Time, and takes us through her process of writing time travel books. Get ready to delve into the complexities of writing an endless time loop love story and discover why it's no easy feat. 

Whether you're a fan of time travel fiction or simply love hearing from talented writers, this podcast episode is not to be missed.

Meet Cesca Major:

Cesca Major is an accomplished author and screenwriter with an impressive track record. With 13 novels published under different pen names, her books have been widely distributed across more than 10 countries. Her writing prowess has earned her nominations for the RNA's Romantic Comedy Award and the CWA Gold Dagger Award, a testament to her exceptional storytelling skills.

Maybe Next Time marks Cesca Major's US debut, and this jump across the pond represents a new opportunity for the author, and we can't wait to see what's next for her. She is also working on an original TV series with the BBC, a new addition to her impressive portfolio. 

Cesca lives in Berkshire with her husband, son, and twin girls. You can find out more about Cesca over on her website.

Book Gang listeners, if you love our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting me on Patreon! As a patron, you'll receive a monthly "FULLY BOOKED" show, featuring the latest in buzzy books reviews in newsletter and podcast format, co-hosted with @getbookedwithlarry.  You'll also get an exclusive monthly author interview and a book club music playlist for the MomAdvice Book Club. Membership is just $5 per month, or you can pre-pay to save 10%.

Mentioned in this episode:

BONUS BOOK LIST: Escape reality with my favorite time travel books list. Don’t miss this expanded stack with time loops, parallel lives, Groundhog's Day themes, and multiverses.

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

A Quiet Life Book Chat with MomAdvice Book Club

Mug Warmer

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

The Summer of Impossible Things by Rowan Coleman

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pukka Fired Up Matte

Don’t miss today’s article with my favorite time travel books in today’s bonus book list! 

Connect With Us:

Connect with Cesca Major on Instagram or her website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Join the MomAdvice Book Club

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED  book review show & more!

Take a deep dive into the world of celebrity book clubs! Explore how Hollywood and literature collide with Oprah, Reese, and Jenna impacting publishing. Josh (@tellthebeees on TikTok) brings his expertise on books and culture news to discuss how celebrity selection has impacted our reading experience.

Don’t miss today’s article with my top five celebrity book club recommendations from these three amazing clubs we have featured today in today’s bonus book list! 

Mentioned in this episode:

Book Gang listeners, if you love our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting me on Patreon! As a patron, you'll receive a monthly "FULLY BOOKED" show, featuring the latest in buzzy books reviews in newsletter and podcast format, co-hosted with @getbookedwithlarry.  You'll also get an exclusive monthly author interview and a book club music playlist for the MomAdvice Book Club. Membership is just $5 per month, or you can pre-pay to save 10%.

MomAdvice Book Club

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

Fables Books

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagiharav

A Little Life Tee

Roxane Gay’s Book Club

Malala’s Book Club

Oprah’s Book Club

Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Reese Witherspoon and the Boom in Celebrity Book Clubs on The Guardian

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

Reese’s Book Club Hello Sunshine

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl

Wild

Big Little Lies

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

The Island of the Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Amy’s Interview with Celeste Ng

Amy’s Interview with Jessica Knoll

Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

L.A. Weather by Maria Amparo Escandon

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing

Carolina by Taylor Swift

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

Reese Witherspoon: Women Want Quality Content, Not 'Mommy Blogs And 14 Ways To Cook A Turkey’ on Huffpost

No Name Book Club

Noname: Tiny Desk Concert

Noname’s Interview on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

How Noname is Reimagining Fame (and Everything Else) on Rolling Stone

Noname Book Club Patreon Account

Black bookstore list from Noname

Read with Jenna Book Club

Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl

Jenna Bush Hager, Progeny of Presidents, Is Now a Publishing Kingmaker on The New York Times

The Feather Thief by Kirk W. Johnson

Jenna Bush Hager Adds Page to Book Club with Universal Studio Production Deal on Variety

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

A Little Hope by Ethan Joella

Lessons for Writing Your First Book with Ethan Joella (Book Gang Podcast)

Remarkable Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Dear Edward

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall

The Family by Naomi Krupitsky

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

Connect With Us:

Connect with Josh (TellTheBeees on Tiktok)

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice.com

Join the MomAdvice Book Club

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED  book review show & more!

Expand your library with new Asian American authors. Celebrate fresh AAPI voices with debut novelist Kristen Mei Chase on today's podcast.

In today's Book Gang episode, Kristen Mei Chase discusses her book "A Thousand Miles to Graceland" and highlights some of her favorite Asian American and Pacific Islander authors in literature.

This sparkling debut imagines a road trip for a mother and daughter bonded together over the surprising power of ELVIS. We also discuss how it trickled into her own relationship with her mother, and other Asian American voices that helped her find her own. 

She discusses her unique publishing process and how her decade-long manuscript finally got published through an unlikely avenue for refinement.

Today's discussion also explores a backlist favorite from Celeste Ng and a brand-new debut favorite that presents an American family story from a bi-racial perspective. For Kristen, the significance of writing (and reading) about bi-racial Chinese-American characters is an impactful one.

Don't miss today's BONUS post featuring Asian American and Pacific Islander authors, including Kristen's book and several upcoming titles. This is a great starting point for reading more books with AAPI voices.

Meet Kristen Mei Chase

Kristen Mei Chase is an author, web entrepreneur and media personality.  She co-founded Cool Mom Picks, one of the most influential parenting networks on the web, reaching millions of parents each month with the best gear, gifts, advice, and tips. As a bi-racial Asian American, Kristen writes to share the little stories of bi- and multi-racial Americans in a big way. She lives in the Philly suburbs with her four kids and an extensive collection of vintage Elvis t-shirts. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Book Gang listeners, if you love our commercial-free podcast, please consider supporting me on Patreon! As a patron, you'll receive a monthly "FULLY BOOKED" show, featuring the latest in buzzy books reviews in newsletter and podcast format, co-hosted with @getbookedwithlarry.  You'll also get an exclusive monthly author interview and a book club music playlist for the MomAdvice Book Club. Membership is just $5 per month, or you can pre-pay to save 10%. 

Please note that HarperCollins has reached an agreement with their strike! This was recorded prior to the contract agreement. You can read more here. 

A Thousand Miles to Graceland by Kristen Mei Chase

A Home for Asian American Authors by Publishers Weekly

Third State Books

Phenomenal Media

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

The Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang

The Library of Legends by Janie Chang

The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn & Janie Chang

HarperCollins Union on TikTok

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

Amy’s interview with Celeste Ng

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

Cup of Jo

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Kristen Mei Chase on her website, Instagram, or Twitter

Connect with Amy on Instagram or on MomAdvice.com

Join the MomAdvice Book Club

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED  book review show & more!

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!

Get ready to relive those coming-of-age moments and feel like a kid again on today's show.  What's better than being transported back to our youth through our fictional life. This discussion is filled with trivia on your favorite backlist books and a short but powerful new release selection I know you'll love. 

Don’t miss this dynamic chat and get our list of essential reads that would be perfect for a buddy read or book club with friends. 

Kristen Rider joins me as our special guest and shares the ways she navigates reading with chronic pain.  You won't want to miss this section with our favorite gadgets and apps that help us navigate this challenge with holding books. 

On the Blog:

Don't miss today's SPECIAL BONUS ARTICLE  with 13 Coming-of-Age Stories Any Adult Will Love! 

Mentioned in this episode:

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

Fables Books

Amy on Hometown Living

LEVO book stand

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The People we Keep by Allison Larkin

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnson

The Clan of the Cave Bar by Jean M. Auel

What the World’s Top Authors Say You Should be Reading

Sundays With Writers: Love With a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

Love with a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

Life by Keith Richards

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

The Girl With the Louding Voice Book Chat

Best-selling novel exposes life of children in Nigeria on Reuters

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane

The Walking People by Mary Beth Keane

Fever by Mary Beth Keane

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevado

Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac

Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

Harper Collins Strike

HCPUnion on TikTok

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Kristin on Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram or on MomAdvice.com

Join the MomAdvice Book Club

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED  book review show & more!

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!

Let’s celebrate this unofficial Galentine’s Day holiday because ladies celebrating ladies is ALWAYS a good thing. Mary Carver, from The Couch podcast, joins us to share her favorite movie & tv friendships while I bring my stack of fictional female friendships that will inspire your next holiday.

It doesn’t happen every day that a television show creates its own holiday, but that’s what happened on one episode of Parks and Recreation. Galentine’s Day, described as “Lilith Fair minus the angst,”  is celebrated by many women thanks to one Parks & Recreation episode

This celebration is showcased in episode 16 of season 2 where  Amy Poehler shares this stirring speech, “Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast style,” she explains. “Ladies celebrating ladies."

This episode offers tips and tricks for celebrating, as well as some insight into how to love your friends well ALL YEAR LONG .

On the Blog:

Don't miss today's SPECIAL BONUS ARTICLE with 13 Friendship Stories You'll Love for Galentine's Day! This extends today's book selections with a fantastic idea for a nonfiction pick as well as  a collection of classic friendship stories that would be great to revive for a backlist book club. 

Mary also catches us up on New Family Movies from 2022 to Watch Now! Don't miss this bonus with ideas for streaming this weekend. 

Mentioned in this episode:

This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris

The Boy We Made Book Chat

Get the Most Out of the Libby App

Parks and Recreation Galentine’s Episode

Enneagram Test

Poms

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

Drop Dead Gorgeous

The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

Miranda

Call the Midwife

BritBox

Spare by Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex

The Gown by Jennifer Robson

Playing House

The Best Libby App Tips and Tricks

Access Kanopy through Libby

Hey Ladies! by Michelle Markowitz and Caroline Moss

Gee Thanks I Just Bought It Podcast

This Book Spoofs All Those Group Emails With Your Girlfriend & It’s Painfully Relatable on Bustle

Never Have I Ever

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Firefly Lane

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

Something Like Happy by Eva Woods

Interview with Author Eva Woods on Something Like Happy on HuffPost

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

Connect With Us:

Connect with Mary on MaryCarver.com or The Couch Podcast or Mary’s Instagram

Connect with Amy on Instagram or on MomAdvice.com

Join the MomAdvice Book Club

Shop Our Bookish Shirts to support the show

Join the Book Gang Patreon (for our exclusive FULLY BOOKED  book review show & more!

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon! (download our top 25 lists AND unlock 189 bookish bonuses INSTANTLY)

The BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR is here! We read a combined 481 books and tell you our top book recommendations from 2022! Larry Hoffer (@getbookedwithlarry) is back with his astounding stack! Cue the confetti!  We share our favorite historical fiction, young adult, science fiction, literary and contemporary fiction, and ONE outstanding thriller that made the cut. Don't miss today's blog post with fifteen more of my favorites in today's show notes. 

If you are on the hunt for your next debut novel, this stack is filled with them because there is nothing better than celebrating new authors.

As readers that love to make discoveries, we were surprised by how many many big blockbuster books ended up making our top ten lists too. I guess the New York Times bestseller list wasn't so bad this year! 

The best part is that Larry and I share many a top pick for the first time. We made some space to reflect on our end of the year reading and how we plan to better shape our goals for a happier and healthier new year of reading in 2023. I also appreciate the personal experiences that we bring to this years book and I think you will too.

If these new books for your stack aren't enough, we are offering a part two of this episode in the Patreon community. Along with this bonus episode is a 20-page reading guide AND printable checklists with our top 25 books so you can take these to your next library day.

We can't wait to hear if a few of your favorite books of the year made the cut.

Helpful Articles Mentioned Today:

Best Books of 2022 To Read Now (blog post- FULL LIST & REVIEWS)

Tutorial on How to Use the Storygraph App

Tutorial on How to Use the Scribd App

Books & Authors Mentioned:

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

The One Hundred Years of Lenni & Margot by Marianne Cronin

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

Fire Keeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas

The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

When You Call My Name by Tucker Shaw

The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour

You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour with David Levithan

Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman

Look Closer by David Ellis

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Larry on Instagram

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This post contains affiliate links.

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my new MomAdvice Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!

The Libby team is HERE to help us transition from Overdrive to Libby. Learn what makes this public library app so great and how to borrow and enjoy ebooks and audiobooks with your library card. Libby is answering our listener questions and is spilling the tea on the exciting developments that are happening behind the scenes for this big (and necessary) transition.

Are you struggling to make the switch from Overdrive to Libby? As many of you know our time with Overdrive will come to an end in 2023. As I make the switch myself, I thought it would be fun to bring you along on this journey.

Today I am honored to share an episode with the Libby team on our show.

The Professional Book Nerds (Joe, Emma, and Jill) are this week’s tour guide You may recognize their from their own podcast where work as staff librarians and offer book recommendations.

They love discussing books with their listeners and sharing what you can check out from your local public libraries and school systems, AND they love talking about what makes the Libby app so unique.

Today’s episode walks you through navigating this reading app, the best way to transition our reading history from Overdrive, and what updates are in progress.

Today’s episode includes listener questions that were submitted before taping.

• How to use their new tagging system and some clever tagging categories you might not have explored.
• Learn the new features for listening to audiobooks and how to download them (without taking up all your phone storage)
• Discover the accessibility features they offer for ebook readers to make reading easier for ALL readers.

Joe Skelley is one of the co-hosts of the Professional Book Nerds podcast and has been at Overdrive for five years. He is part of the digital book mobile team which is a truck that goes across the US and Canada that does free stops at libraries and schools and helps people get started with their library.

Emma Dwyer is also one of the co-hosts of OverDrive's Professional Book Nerds podcast and an avid user of the Libby app. She has been at Overdrive for eight years now in varying roles, and is currently as a product trainer on the Overdrive training team, training our library partners and their staff on how to use Libby and other Overdrive products and services. 

Jill Grunenwald is the creator and the third co-host of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. She works on OverDrive's marketing team as a Marketing and Communications Specialist for the North American public library. Her role is to communicate with  library partners to let them know about all the fun new services and features that Libby has to offer. 

Mentioned in this episode:

FULL LIBBY GUIDE WITH WRITTEN TRANSCRIPTION TODAY (and screenshots from our discussion)

How to Use the Storygraph Tutorial (Written Guide)

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

2023 MomAdvice Book Club Announcement Podcast Episode

Check Out the 2023 MomAdvice Book Club List

This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris

Winter Atmospheric Reads- My Guest Spot on the Professional Book Nerds Podcast

Professional Book Nerds Libby Podcast Episode

You can find Libby Help directly in the app or visit this help link.

You can register for the monthly Getting Started sessions

You can find steps for sideloading Libby on your Kindle Fire

A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand

The Secret History by Donna Tart

Wicked Little Things by Justin Arnold

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