POP! goes our 200th episode! Join the Book Squad (plus Ben) and special guest Samantha Allen, author of Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet, to talk about the 2007 Hugh Grant/Drew Barrymore romcom Music & Lyrics. We discuss our personal connections to the film, the romance, the music, and what might not hold up in 2024. Then we interview Samanatha about her new novel! It’s a fun Q and A you don’t want to miss!

Tune in for our next Bookpisode on 12/24 where we’ll be covering Model Home by Rivers Solomon. And then it’s time for everyone’s favorite episode: The Best of 2024 Othersode! That’ll be hitting your feeds on 1/7/25. Keep an eye on our Instagram for more official information about our 200th Episode Giveaway, and go buy Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe! 

TOC:
:30–welcome Ben and Samantha!!
13:40– our history with the movie
22:00– do drew Barrymore and Hugh grant have chemistry?
36:30–problematic elements and weird things
59:11– interview with Samantha Allen, author of Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet
1:49:29–what’s up next?

We’re off to the sad botanical garden for our ONE HUNDREDTH (!) Bookpisode about Hum by Helen Phillips. We talk about climate change, artificial intelligence, human connection (or lack thereof) and, of course, the ultimate villain: capitalism! Then we get into some special 100th episode feedback and give a quick blog update. Our next Othersode will be about Music & Lyrics, and we’ll be joined by special guest Samantha Allen, author of Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet. That’s on 12/10! And then, our holiday gift to you is our next Bookpisode on Model Home by Rivers Solomon dropping on 12/24! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe, Goalies!

TOC
:30 – Icebreaker and happy 100th bookpisode
13:00 – Book intro
14:58 – Climate change
23:50 – Late stage capitalism and ads
40:58 – What happened at the botanical gardens
56:35 – Human connection and cosmetic procedures
1:11:15 – Epilogue
1:18:15 – Ratings
1:23:50 – Listener feedback! 
1:31:50 – What’s on the pod? What’s up next?

Book Squad meets Bollywood as we discuss Bride & Prejudice (2004) with special guest Tirzah Price! We talk about how this Austen adaptation works in a Bollywood setting, racism and xenophobia, surprise appearances from western actors, and (obviously) the musical numbers. Then we chat with Tirzah about her new novel (out now!), In Want of a Suspect. Don’t worry – no spoilers here! Read along for our next Bookpisode about Hum by Helen Phillips on 11/26. Then join us and special guest Samantha Allen (author of Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet) to talk about Music & Lyrics on 12/10! Consider becoming a patron for just $3 a month, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new episode!

TOC
:30–Welcome, Tirzah! 
10:57–Movie Intro
11:50– Adaptations and interpreting characters
15:38– Do any parts of the story not work?
28:29– Surprise celebrity sightings
33:14–How does the movie tackle big topics like racism and xenophobia?
54:13– Interview with Tirzah!
1:28:30– What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

If you start with the basic knowledge that Spanish Inquisition = Bad, you’ll be just fine. This week the Book Squad discusses Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar. We talk about the historical piece of this historical fantasy, question where the vampires are, play “hot or not,” and dig into the romance. Then we read some great listener feedback (Alex’s Version) and catch up with what’s on the blog. Tune in for our next Othersode about Bride and Prejudice with special guest Tirzah Price (author of In Want of a Suspect) on 11/12. Then read along for our next Bookpisode on Hum by Helen Phillips on 11/26.

TOC 
:30 – Welcome! 
7:25 – Book intro
10:00 – Disclaimers, the historical fantasy of it all
18:53 – Where are the vampires?
34:16 – Did anything surprise you?
49:00 – How was the romance? The ending?
52:05 – Ratings
54:50 – Listener feedback: Alex edition!
1:09:53 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Goodbye, Eyeball Fall; hello, Cannibal-tober!(?) We’ll workshop it. Special guest J.H. Markert (aka James Markert) joins the Squad to revisit 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs and talk about his latest novel, Sleep Tight! We talk about why Hannibal is so iconic (“the late, great Hannibal Lecter,” anyone?), the interplay between trauma and horror, getting inside the mind of a killer, and LGBTQ+ representation in the early 90s. Next we pepper James with questions about his new novel, Sleep Tight (a September Book of the Month pick!), in a spoiler-free interview. Speaking of scary things, Spooktober is back on the Book Squad Blog! Go check that out for more spooky season content. Join us on October 29th for Mary’s triumphant return to discuss even MORE spooky content – The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo. Then go watch Bride & Prejudice for our next Othersode featuring Tirzah Price, author of In Want of a Suspect, on November 12th!

TOC:
:30 – Welcome, James! 
14:35 – What makes this story so appealing? 
25:45 – How do trauma and mental illness inform the story?
32:10 – Why are we all so obsessed with serial killers?
39:50 – Transness and LGBTQIA+ issues in Silence of the Lambs
53:03 – Interview with James Markert! 
1:36:17 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Links: https://screenrant.com/silence-of-the-lambs-buffalo-bill-lgbtq-controversy/

If you could eat any body part, what would it be? Join Emily, Kelli, and Susan as they discuss the delicious body horror of The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim. Between the gross out horror scenes, this novel discusses misogyny, sexuality, and what happens when, well, you’re just kind of a jerk. Join us next time as special guest James Markert joins us to discuss Silence of the Lambs and his new book Sleep Tight. Then, Mary returns with a discussion of Leigh Bardugo’s historical vampire novel, The Familiar! 

TOC
:30– Icebreaker!
10:52– Goodreads description
15:44–Why is the book about eating eyeballs?
22:00–Men suck, but in various ways
40:15–How Ji-Won is kinda not a good person
48:57–Unpacking the ending
1:02:35– Ratings
1:07:40– What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Whatever you do, don’t go to sleep while listening to this episode…because we’re talking about A Nightmare on Elm Street with special guest Lamar Giles, author of the new novel Ruin Road! We talk about the icon himself Freddy Krueger, horror tropes, potential alternate endings, and how this movie stacks up to other slasher franchises. Then we have a fun and spoiler-free conversation with Lamar about Ruin Road, which is out TODAY! Tune in on October 1 for part two of Eyeball Fall when we discuss The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim. Then join us for another classic horror movie chat when we cover The Silence of the Lambs with special guest J.H. Markert, author of the new horror novel Sleep Tight on 10/15! 

TOC:
30– Welcome Lamar!! Evil Genie Wishes
12:20– Happy 40 years Nightmare on Elm Street!
14:48–Freddy Kruger as a villain
20:49–Horror tropes
34:37–Supernatural horror
40:53–the end of the movie
58:23– final thoughts
1:06:19– talking with Lamar Giles about RUIN ROAD!
1:41:20–what’s on the blog, what’s up next?

YA Book Club about The Getaway by Lamar Giles: https://www.booksquadgoals.com/blog/ya-book-club-the-getaway-by-lamar-giles

YA Book Club about Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles: https://www.booksquadgoals.com/blog/ya-book-club-not-so-pure-and-simple-by-lamar-giles

Pack your bags — we’re off to Europe for a second-chance romance! This week the Book Squad is talking about The Pairing by Casey McQuiston. We discuss romance tropes, ~sexy stuff~, gender dynamics, and food and wine writing. Join us and special guest Lamar Giles, author of Ruin Road, for our next Othersode about Nightmare on Elm Street on September 17th. Then read along for our next Bookpisode about The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monica Kim on October 1st. Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review! 

TOC
:30 – Welcome, pastry talk!
6:30 – Book intro
8:55 – Romance tropes and Kit and Theo as characters
33:50 – Let’s talk about sex, baby
44:02 – Gender and romance
56:55 – Travel
1:05:42 – Ratings
1:12:14 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Links:
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/casey-mcquiston-the-pairing-queer-love-self-discovery-1235067954/

Did you think our hatred of It Ends With Us ended with our hatepisode on the book? Think again. This week, girlfriend of the pod Angela Ferraguto joins us for a discussion of the brand new film adapation of Colleen Hoover's novel — and by discussion, we mostly mean a list of complaints. Plus, Angela offers her expert opinion re: flowers and the city of Boston, where everything is better. If you have any feedback, even if its hateful, feel free to email us at [email protected]. Stay tuned for our next bookpisode on 9/3 when we'll be discussing The Pairing by Casey McQuiston, and stay extra tuned for our next othersode on 9/17 where we will be joined by the amazing Lamar Giles to talk about his new book, Ruin Road (oh, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, only 40 years late).

TOC
:30 – Welcome, Ang!
5:23 – Colleen Hoover names are out of control
12:08 – Movie intro
12:45 – Changes between book and movie
26:40 – The cringiest moment
39:00 – Marketing
53:40 – What happened on set?
1:16:06 – Boston corner
1:26:37 – Ratings
1:28:57 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Join Emily, Susan, and special returning guest Janet for a discussion of Angie Kim’s second novel, Happiness Falls! We talk about the mystery plot, the role of communication and understanding, whether you can quantify happiness, and how we feel about the ending. Then we get into some listener feedback and continue our feud over whether Kennedy from Come and Get It is actually evil or pretty ok. Go see It Ends with Us and be a hater with us for our next Othersode on August 20. Then read along for our next Bookpisode about The Pairing by Casey McQuiston on September 3. Wanna weigh in on the Kennedy debate? Got other feedback? Send it all to [email protected]!