It’s cold outside, but the squad is still thinking about Midsommar. Author Tatiana Schlote-Bonne journeys to the Hårga with the rest of the squad for a fun, sunny, nine-day midsummer festival. What could possibly go wrong? After we chat about human sacrifice, bears, “good for her” horror movies, and responsible mushroom use, stick around for a spoiler-free talk with Tatiana about her latest horror novel, The Mean Ones. And if you have thoughts about Midsommar and/or creepy cults, don’t forget to write in to [email protected] to let us know! Next on the pod (11/25), Sam Clark from Seattle Book Club joins us to discuss Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang. And on December 9, we’ll chat about Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein with friend of the pod, Todd! Skål!

TOC
:30 – Welcome, Tatiana! And icebreaker
6:00 – Movie intro
8:33 – Personal history with Midsommar
16:18 – Why is this movie so iconic?
21:44 – Is Christian evil?
28:16 – Mental health
39:27 – Is this movie for or against community?
44:29 – How should we feel when it ends?
50:24 – Interview with Tatiana! 
1:1819 – What’s up next?

Links
https://www.booksquadgoals.com/blog/midsommar-ari-aster?rq=midsommar

You know what they say: Hell is going to grad school. Or that’s what R. F. Kuang says, and we here at Book Squad Goals tend to agree with her assessment. This week, the squad dives into Kuang’s latest, Katabasis, discussing everything from the state of Booktok and the publishing landscape to whether or not an erection qualifies a book for Romantasy status. Feel free to weigh in by sending an email to [email protected]. You can also check out our blog for at least one NEW POST (gasp) at booksquadgoals.com/blog. Stay tuned for our next episode on 11/11 where we’ll be revisiting the film Midsommar along with Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, author of The Mean Ones. You should also read along for our next bookpisode on Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang, where we’ll be joined by Sam, owner/founder of Seattle Book Club, on 11/25. 

Finally, please consider subscribing to our Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/booksquadgoals, for just $3 a month! Please!!!!

TOC:
0:30– Welcome! And icebreaker
14:05–Magic as metaphor
18:20–Is this book too academic?
35:04–Alice and women in academia
1:00:00–Pacing and what could go
1:16:19–Anything else? Ratings?
1:20:02–What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Things get creepy on the BSG podcast when four unreliable female narrators come together to discuss the Netflix adaptation of The Woman in Cabin 10, based on the thriller by Ruth Ware. This week, Tirzah Price, author of In Want of a Suspect and the upcoming A Matter of Murder, joins the squad aboard our lavish yacht. Tune in as we tackle important questions like: Why is this woman so tired? Why did the movie switch up the story so much? And most importantly, how the heck did Lo Blacklock get herself in this situation yet again in the sequel? If you watch The Woman in Cabin 10, starring Keira Knightly holding an iPhone for the first time in her life, make sure to write in and let us know your thoughts! And tune in next time (Oct 28) as we discuss Katabasis by RF Kuang! And on Nov 11, Tatiana Schlote-Bonne joins us to discuss Midsommar and her novel The Mean Ones! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review, and join our Patreon for exclusive pet pics!

TOC
1:18 Tirzah is Here!
7:50 Intro. Question
13:50 Book Vs. Movie Changes
28:33 The Cast
32:16 The Ending
48:05 Is This Movie Good?
54:20 The Woman in Suite 11 (light spoilers)
1:04:10 Why is the Woman-Preposition-Noun trend so popular?
1:14:03 A Matter of Murder by Tirzah Price!
1:18:58 What's on the Blog! Wrap-Up Stuff!

Husband of the Pod Todd joins Mary, Kelli, and Emily for a discussion of John Green’s new nonfiction book, Everything is Tuberculosis. They ask important questions about the ethics of illness narratives, cowboy hats, the US presidents, and whether or not it is sexy to look tired. Plus: an impassioned defense of Paper Towns from a heterosexual white man!

Next Othersode: The Woman in Cabin 10 with Tirzah Price - 10/14
Next Episode: Katabasis by RF Kuang - 10/28

TOC
:30—Welcome Todd! And icebreaker
15:00—Book intro
16:46—The story of tuberculosis
33:25—Henry’s story
53:00—Is John Green the best person to tell this story?
1:07:44—Ratings
1:11:18—What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Author Ally Russell (Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave) joins the squad to discuss Ryan Coogler’s Sinners! Ally graciously stuck around to tell us about her new book as well, and we had a great conversation about the supernatural, cemeteries, and all things strange and unusual. Ally is an absolute gem, and you won’t want to miss this one! Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave is available now wherever you get your books.

Up Next: Everything is Tuberculosis with Todd Osborne (9/30)
And Then: The Woman in Cabin 10 with Tirzah Price (10/14)

TOC:
0:00– Welcome, Ally! (and cat tour)
9:39– Icebreaker
17:50– Sinners intro
19:19–Trailers, expectations
28:23– Characters
37:25– Performances
54:39–What’s up with how horny this movie is? … also romance
1:00:20–Music
1:25:39–Interview with Ally Russell!
2:01:50– What’s on the blog? What’s up next? 

Dev Forst - https://www.instagram.com/devforst/ 
Ally Russell - https://www.instagram.com/onedarkally/

In a post-apocalyptic world, a mysterious convent is some women’s only hope for survival, but when the beautiful Lucia enters the scene, the unnamed narrator feels inspired to get to the bottom of the convent’s many secrets. This week, Emily, Mary, and Kelli discuss Agustina Bazterrica’s The Unworthy, covering everything from the structure of the convent's mysterious religion to the merits of writing diary entries with your own blood. 

Next Othersode: Sinners with Ally Russell (Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave) 9/16
Next Episode: Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green 9/30

TOC:
:30—Welcome! Beverage check and icebreaker
6:00—Book intro
10:29—How does the narrative device work?
20:00—Dystopia
28:40—Religion
39:14—Lucia
49:12—There’s a LOT happening in this book
57:55—The ending
1:02:28—Ratings
1:09:10—What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Horror author Paul Tremblay joins us for ANOTHER episode, this time to discuss John Carpenter’s The Thing. Then, we turn our lens to Paul as we talk about his latest book, Another, a horror tale geared at younger readers. Tune in for our next episode where we will discuss The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica on September 2 (and follow along on our Fable book club now). On our next Othersode on September 16, we'll discuss Sinners and with Ally Russell, author of Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave!

Mary, Kelli, and Emily convene to talk about Vanishing World, the latest work by Sayaka Murata to be translated into English. When Amane finds out she was conceived in an unnatural way, it sets her up for a lifetime of mental anguish. Will Amane find her place in normative society? Will she have a child the “right” way? As usual Murata takes us on a wild ride with twists no one saw coming! We discuss how uncomfortable this book made us feel for a variety of reasons, and also talk about Murata’s profile in the New Yorker which left us with more questions than answers. Then, we address an unexpected piece of feedback from the blog.

TOC:
:30–Welcome! And congrats, Susan!
14:25–Book intro and a big ole content warning
18:34–the basic premise of the novel
24:09–Murata’s “Alien Eye”
39:12–“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking”
46:25–Deriving pleasure from your uterus
49:30–So, the ending. The pivot.
59:00–What is she trying to say?
1:09:47–Ratings
1:11:22– Survive the Night feedback
1:20:44– What’s up next?

Links:
Sayaka Murata interview: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/04/14/sayaka-muratas-alien-eye
WithCindy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEWdtN0l0Is 
Emily and Mary talk Survive the Night: https://www.booksquadgoals.com/blog/survive-the-book-mary-and-emily-read-riley-sager

Hello, old sports! Join us and our young and beautiful guests, Janet Dale and Allison Renner, as we revisit Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby (2013). Then we chat with Janet and Allison about their new collaborative chapbook, Green Light: A Gatsby Cycle. Read along for our next Bookpisode about Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata on August 5th. Then watch The Thing for our next Othersode with Paul Tremblay, author of the new novel Another, on August 19th.

TOC
:30 – Hello everyone! Welcome, Janet and Allison! 
17:00 – How does this movie hold up?
32:00 – Casting
44:15 – The music
48:45 – Why do people still love Gatsby?
57:12– Interview with Janet and Allison!
1:38:39 – What’s up next?

Hey, hun! It’s your old friends, the Book Squad, with an exciting opportunity for you! We’d love to invite you to join us for our discussion about El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott. We talk about the sisters’ relationships, money troubles, good ol’ fashioned pyramid schemes, and all things shocking and revolting. Drop in for our next Othersode on 7/22 featuring guests Janet Dale and Allison Renner, co-authors of Green Light: A Gatsby Cycle. We’ll be revisiting Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby with them!. Then read along with us for our second Sayaka Murata Bookpisode pick, Vanishing World, on 8/5! Don’t forget to check out our Patreon and leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts!

TOC:
30– Welcome! And icebreaker
9:00–Book intro
11:20–The Bishop sisters and their relationship
23:33–What’s their problem?
29:45–MLM business
46:00– The murder part
56:56–TWISTS that are SHOCKING AND REVOLTING
1:01:00–Ratings
1:04:40–Feedback
1:08:00– What’s up next?

Links:
The chefs at sororities: https://www.instagram.com/oldscoolkevmo/?hl=en