Book Gang

Uncover the Agatha Christie beginner's guide with Victoria from The Reader's Couch! Explore her best-underrated gems and find new modern authors like Christie.

Deep dive into Agatha Christie's legacy with Victoria Wood from The Reader's Couch podcast! In this episode of the All-Star Book Influencer Series, we uncover what makes Christie's mysteries so enduring, why her storytelling resonates across generations, and how contemporary authors like Sophie Hannah and Louise Penny have taken cues from her genius.

Takeaways include:

• Victoria's introduction to Christie through The Body in the Library.
• Christie's masterful use of red herrings in stories like And Then There Were None.
• Underrated gems like Crooked House that deserve the spotlight.
• The timeless appeal of the universal themes in Christie's work.

We also discuss how personal connections to literature enhance our reading experiences from other well-known authors and the evolution of Christie's legacy through modern adaptations.

BONUS CONTENT: Be sure to check out Victoria's article, "Beginner's Guide to Agatha Christie Books," which helps new readers explore Poirot, Miss Marple, and her standalone novels.

Victoria Wood hosts The Reader’s Couch Podcast. She is a reading enthusiast who has successfully guided self-proclaimed “non-readers” into cultivating and sustaining reading habits and assisted readers in fostering more intentional and fulfilling reading lives. She hosts conversations with authors to learn more about their writing and reading lives.

The Reader's Couch Podcast

Bibliolifestyle's Booktube Channel

Bibliolifestyle

Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Salem's Lot

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hildebrand

The Perfect Couple

Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman

Lady in the Lake

Disclaimer by Renee Knight

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Letterboxd app

Dead in Long Beach, Californiaby Venita Blackburn

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie & Sophie Hannah

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 

The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie 

A Pocketful of Rye by Agatha Christie 

Crooked House by Agatha Christie

The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie 

Conclave

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Connect with Victoria on The Reader's Couch Podcast, Instagram, and YouTube

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

Join the NEW 2025 MomAdvice Book Club and discover 12 incredible novels together along with many interactive author discussions for this year’s festivities.

It's my favorite day of the year (CUE THE CONFETTI) and I'm so excited to invite you to the 2025 MomAdvice Book Club! This year, we're mixing things up to make your book club experience even more immersive and engaging.

As I've done in years past, I've curated twelve fantastic reads spanning genres like historical fiction, romance, contemporary fiction, and even a touch of horror—there's something for everyone this year!

To discover this year's selections, you can head to today's post, which includes all the details, including the recommended format, the reading mood of the novel, and pacing information. Each description also offers the accompanying reader experience, which is PRETTY EPIC this year. After discussing what changes you want to see this year, I hope you'll be excited to experience this with me.

I've also uploaded a podcast going through each of these books for those of you that prefer an audio experience with some behind-the-scenes details. I hope you'll join me on this reading adventure!

Connect With Me:

JOIN THE 2025 MomAdvice Book Club

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

Dive into the world of literary fiction books with Tina from Book Talk, etc. Discover her top 5 book recommendations for readers and why she loves the genre.

I'm so excited to launch our new All-Star Book Influencer series with our first guest, Tina from Book Talk, etc., who joins the show to offer our listeners her top recommendations for the best literary fiction novels.

The All-Star Book Influencers Series will spotlight conversations with influential figures in the book world, from bookstagrammers and booktubers to podcast hosts and reading community leaders. Each of our upcoming guests has chosen their dream topic to discuss on our show.

Here's what you can come to expect in the months ahead:

• Diverse Perspectives: Each guest will bring their unique take on reading, from curating lists that challenge our norms to reviving under-the-radar titles that deserve a second glance.
• Fresh Recommendations: We'll cover everything from contemporary must-reads to cozy classics, ensuring our conversations remain as varied and engaging as your tastes.
• Actionable Inspiration: Get ready for book talk that goes beyond the pages—these episodes will help you consider why you read what you do and how to open new pathways to reading more, reading diversely, and making your reading life more intentional.

Today, we define what we think makes a great literary fiction book, whether novels need satisfying endings to be favorites, and share Tina's top five recommendations for beginning a literary fiction reading journey.

We also discover more of her behind-the-scenes content creation process, including her experiences in the podcasting world, her transition to BookTube, and what she has learned about the importance of authenticity in content creation.

BONUS BOOK LIST: Don't miss this week's bonus book list featuring 15 literary fiction titles perfect for escaping this reading season. This curated list includes both Tina's favorites and mine to kickstart your new reading journey.

Tina Books is a bookish content creator and book podcaster. She is a self-proclaimed book pusher with a passion for new releases who focuses on mystery/thriller, literary fiction, horror, contemporary fiction, and memoir. Tina cohosts Book Talk, etc., a weekly book recommendation podcast. She can be found on Instagram and TikTok at TBR, etc. She is also finding her way on Booktube, also at TBR, etc.  

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 15 Literary Fiction Books For Character-Driven Adventures

Join the November Book Club Chat (This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel)

Book Talk, etc. Podcast

Evenity

The Nonfiction November Challenge You Need

Notion

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

A24 Films

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

The Nickel Boys movie

Kanopy

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

30 Fictional Serial Killer Books to Read Now

The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld

The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld

Amy's Interview with Rene Denfeld

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Connect with Tina on the Book Talk, etc. Podcast, Instagram, Tiktok, and YouTube

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

In this episode, Emiko Jean discusses flipping the script on the traditional missing girl narrative in her new police procedural, The Return of Ellie Black.

This week, we’re joined by New York Times bestselling author Emiko Jean to discuss her latest police procedural novel, The Return of Ellie Black.

In today’s episode, Emiko offers a behind-the-scenes look at her writing process for The Return of Ellie Black, including the extensive research involved in portraying true crime elements and what missing girl narratives have been missing from their portrayals. She also opens up about the emotional challenges of writing certain scenes through the darker aspects of this thriller.

Don’t miss this week’s bonus book list, where we offer 23 atmospheric books perfect for your fall book stack. This list includes cozy fantasy, moody thrillers, and magical realism.

Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation with Emiko Jean, where we discuss the surprising plot twists in The Return of Ellie Black ending, and her plans for the upcoming Detective Chelsea Calhoun series.

Meet Emiko Jean

Emiko Jean is a New York Times bestselling author of adult and young adult fiction. Her books have been published in over 30 languages and have been featured by Good Morning America as a GMA Book Club pick and by Reese Witherspoon as a YA Book Club pick. Her work has appeared in Marie Claire, Entertainment Weekly, Time, Cosmopolitan, Shondaland, and Bustle. She lives in Washington with her husband and two kids.

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 24 Atmospheric Books to Get Lost In

Join the November Book Club Chat (This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel)

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

Under the Bridge Limited Series

Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey

What Happened to Nina by Dervla McTiernan 

Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean

Other books by Emiko Jean:

Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

Empress of all Seasons by Emiko Jean

We’ll Never Be Apart by Emiko Jean

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Connect with Emiko Jean on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

Meg Shaffer takes us behind the scenes to the literary seminar with legendary writer Richard Russo, who helped her craft her cozy fantasy book, The Lost Story.

Imposter syndrome is real and even our favorite authors experience it as they contemplate their next project. In this week's episode, we welcome back bestselling author Meg Shaffer to join us to discuss her latest cozy fantasy novel, The Lost Story, and the literary seminar with Richard Russo that guided this story and gave Meg the writing encouragement she always needed.  

Today, we discuss Meg's unique research methods, including how she used Fiverr to fact-check archery scenes and gain insights into the pressures of writing a second novel after the commercial success of The Wishing Game.

Don’t miss this week’s bonus book list with 23 cozy fantasy books to read this autumn. This new book list includes upcoming titles, new releases, and, of course, those backlist book gems you have come to expect!

Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation with Meg Shaffer, where we discuss The Lost Story ending, her favorite moments in the book, and her top book recommendations from her spicy romance writing career for Harlequin!

Meet Meg Shaffer

Meg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game, which was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist, a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year, a #1 Barnes & Noble bestseller, and a Reader's Digest Best Book of the Year. Her second novel, The Lost Story, is an instant national bestseller and is available now from Ballantine.

With an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College, Shaffer lives in Kentucky with her husband and two cats—though the cats, unfortunately, aren't writers.

Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like The Lost Story. All purchases support this year's programming. 

BONUS BOOK LIST: 23 Cozy Fantasy Books  To Lower Your Stress Levels

Join the October Book Club Chat (Severance by Ling Ma)

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

The Wishing Game Interview (Meg Shaffer's First Show)

The House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

The Magic of Old Hollywood Books with Molly Fader Episode

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

Jack Gibbons, Chopin Pianist

It by Stephen King

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Connect with Meg Shaffer on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

Rob Hart discusses his gripping novel, Assassins Anonymous, and the heartfelt storytelling approach that defines his work.

When Steven Spielberg's production company, Amblin Entertainment, snaps up the rights to a book within 24 hours of acquisition, you know the book must be incredible.

Today, Rob Hart joins us to discuss his new novel Assassins Anonymous and the unique background he brings to crafting a great fight sequence. This thriller offers readers humor, heart, and loads of cinematic action, making it an absolute favorite from my reading year. We discuss his plans for continuing this book series for readers and how he continually pivots genres and projects in his writing career.

 Readers should prepare for deliciously clever plot twists, which we discuss in our patron spoiler-filled episode about the shocking Assassins Anonymous ending Hart crafted!

BONUS BOOK LIST

Whether you're in the mood for twisty thrillers, laugh-out-loud moments, or heartwarming escapes, I've rounded up 17 of my favorite binge-worthy books that are perfect for breaking out of a reading slump.

Rob Hart is the author of Assassins Anonymous, The Paradox Hotel, The Warehouse, the Ash McKenna crime series, and the co-author of Scott Free with James Patterson. He's worked as a book publisher, a reporter, a political communications director, and a commissioner for the city of New York. Hart lives on Staten Island. 

Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like Assasins Anonymous. All purchases support this year's programming.  

Download Today's Show Transcript

BONUS BOOK LIST: Books to Get Out of a Reading Slump Book List (17 Book Ideas)

Join the October Book Club Chat (Severance by Ling Ma)

Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart 

The Warehouse by Rob Hart 

The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart 

Blood in the Cut by Alejandro Nodarse 

Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett 

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Connect with Rob Hart on Instagram or his Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

Discover the best Disability Pride Books curated by Cindy Otis from The Stacks Bookstore, who offers readers a virtual tour of her disability-inclusive space.

Cindy Otis's journey to opening The Stacks offers a vital and well-thought conversation about her own limitations in accessing bookshops and what was top of mind for her customers when designing an accessible and welcoming space for all, especially those with disabilities in Savannah, Georgia. 

From ramps to fonts to her bookshop's tagline, Cindy's thoughtful design choices ensure every reader can enjoy the magic of books. Her small business journey will mesmerize you.

Get her top five book recommendations to celebrate Disability Pride Month all year long!  But the best part is that you can support her shop through your purchases today in today's special Disability Pride Month book list. Let's shower Cindy's  shop with some love this month. 

Cindy Otis is a writer and the author of the novel At the Speed of Lies, which is now out with Scholastic, and the critically acclaimed nonfiction book True or False, published by Macmillan.

Her other written work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, the New York Times, CNN, and Teen Vogue. She previously served as an intelligence analyst and manager at the CIA. She is not just a bookseller but a champion for inclusivity and accessibility in the literary world.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL PURCHASES FROM TODAY'S SHOW SUPPORT THE STACKS BOOKSTORE 

SHOP THE DISABILTY PRIDE BOOK LIST

At the Speed of Lies by Cindy L. Otis

True or False by Cindy L. Otis

Cindy’s TikTok

The Stacks: How a Small Bookstore Plans to Make Big Waves on Waters Avenue

The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz

Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann

Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

True Biz by Sara Novic

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives with Heart

DOWNLOAD TODAY'S SHOW TRANSCRIPT

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Follow The Stacks Bookstore on Instagram or Tiktok

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

Laura shares the painfully hilarious real-life inspiration behind her novel, discussing how personal experiences with negative feedback trickled into One-Star Romance.

The dark horse in my romance stack was Laura Hankin's debut novel, which pulled ahead as my summer favorite. After reading the author for years across genres, I'm honored to have Laura Hankin on the Book Gang podcast to discuss her writing pivot in One-Star Romance.

In a world of instant feedback, I was fascinated by Laura's hacks for processing reviewer feedback that still protects her creative process. These candid reflections offer valuable lessons for aspiring authors and a gentle reminder of the power of a one-liner scathing review that can haunt writers long after we've hit "post."

Patrons can dive into the One-Star Romance ending through today’s spoiler chat, where we discuss Hankin's surprising plot twists that take us to that swoon-worthy happily ever after. 

Laura Hankin is an accomplished author, screenwriter, and performer known for her captivating novels, perfect for beach reads and book club discussions. Her previous works include The Daydreams, Happy & You Know It, and A Special Place for Women.

One-Star Romance is her debut romance.

TODAY'S GIANT BONUS SUMMER CONTENT:

Summer reading season is in full swing. Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like One-Star Romance. All purchases support this year's programming.  

Download Today's Show Transcript

NEW: 26 Books About Books List

NEW: 32 Books About Authors and Publishing Book List

NEW: 23 Stunning Books About Bookstores Book List

NEW: 18 Books About Book Clubs Book List

NEW:  25 Books About Libraries Book List

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club

One Star Romance by Laura Hankin

American Fever by Dur E Aziz Amna

Laura Hankin's Tiktok Viral Moment

The Daydreams by Laura Hankin

Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin

A Special Place for Women by Laura Hankin

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

The Last Word by Taylor Adams

Akwaeke Emezi Shares Strategy for Processing Reviews

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Connect with Laura Hankin on Instagram, Tiktok, or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

Nicola Yoon discusses her provocative adult debut, One of Our Kind, and the surprising inspiration from The Stepford Wives that sparked her daring new story.

Writing inspiration can sometimes strike in the most unlikely places. Podcast listening in the shower electrified a story Nicola Yoon had never expected to write. Join us for an enlightening conversation with the bestselling young adult novelist as she discusses her provocative debut adult novel, One of Our Kind.

Today, she shares how The Stepford Wives inspired her thought-provoking thriller, and how she hopes to ignite book club conversation through her story’s pages.  

Yoon also shares the mission behind her imprint, Joy Revolution Books, which she co-founded with her husband, David Yoon, to celebrate love stories by and about people of color. It’s a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes and a tribute to the couple’s dedication to these storytellers.

BONUS BOOK LIST: Take advantage of these 23 must-read social horror books for a summer immersion. You’ll love these thought-provoking book selections, from eerie dystopias to unsettling societal critiques.

Patrons can dive into the One of Our Kind ending through today’s spoiler chat, where we discuss Yoon’s motivations behind her characters, the book’s ending, and the connections she hopes the reader will make as they finish that last page.

Nicola Yoon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Instructions for Dancing, Everything, Everything, The Sun Is Also a Star, and a co-author of Blackout and Whiteout.

She is a National Book Award finalist, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book recipient, a Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner and the first Black woman to hit #1 on the New York Times Young Adult bestseller list. Two of her novels have been made into major motion pictures.

She’s also the co-publisher of Joy Revolution, a Random House young adult imprint dedicated to love stories starring people of color. She grew up in Jamaica and Brooklyn, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, the novelist David Yoon, and their daughter.

One of our Kind is her adult debut.

BONUS SUMMER CONTENT:

Summer reading season is in full swing. Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like One of Our Kind. All purchases support this year’s programming. 

NEW: The Best Social Horror Books To Read Now (23 Book Ideas)

Download Today's Podcast Transcript

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club

BONUS LIST: These Social Horror Books Will Make You Think

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club

One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon

When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

The Warehouse by Rob Hart

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Blackout by Nicola Yoon, Angie Thomas & more

Whiteout by Nicola Yoon, Dhonielle Clayton & more

Joy Revolution Books

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Connect with Nicola Yoon on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

L.M. Chilton reveals his surprising dating history that inspired his debut thriller, Swiped. 

After nearly a decade and 212 failed dates, L.M. Chilton channeled his dating frustrations into Swiped, a fresh debut murder mystery exploring the darker side of online dating cleverly crafted for the millennial reader. Today, we discuss his personal story and journalism efforts to uncover the truth behind the algorithms.

But his book isn't the only thing with plot twists. His decision to go on one last date revealed a real-life plot twist you'll love discovering. 

Patrons can dive into a bonus spoiler episode with the Swiped  ending, where Chilton discusses his favorite red herrings and killer reveal. 

BONUS BOOK LIST: I've partnered with Larry on this week's book list, which offers 30 Fictional Serial Killer Books to Read Now! Whether you crave compelling psychological thrillers or enjoy a touch of the campy and macabre, there's a perfect book for you.

L.M. Chilton has been a journalist for 15 years, working for TV shows like This Morning, The One Show, and Loose Women, as well as magazines and newspapers such as The Times, The Mirror, Metro, New!, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour.

He started his journalism career writing for 'real life' magazines, interviewing people worldwide about the terrifying, hilarious, and heart-breaking things that had happened to them. And also funny things their pets had done.

He works from home in London, thinking of twists for murder mysteries and practicing the banjo instead of writing (much to the annoyance of his neighbors).

BONUS SUMMER CONTENT:

Summer reading season is in full swing. Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like Swiped. All purchases support this year's programming. 

Swiped by L.M. Chilton

BONUS SERIAL KILLER BOOK LIST

Download Today's Transcript

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Swiped by L.M. Chilton

Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Connect with L.M. Chilton on his Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)