Book Squad Goals

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]!

Pick your astrological enemy because it’s time to fight them in this high school gymnasium! JK, but we are discussing Bottoms (2023) with special guest Susie Dumond! After talking about the film, we chat with Susie about her new novel, Looking for a Sign. She gives us some great insights into her process, and we get to talk about astrology and dating apps too! Susie’s book is out now, so go get it! Join us and special guest Janet Dale on August 6 for our next Bookpisode on Happiness Falls by Angie Kim. Then go hate-watch It Ends With Us for our next Othersode/Hatepisode on August 20th! Hit us with your listener feedback at [email protected] or DM us on social media!

TOC:
:30 – Welcome, Susie! 
8:30 – Movie Intro
9:21 – Comedy and tone
14:30 – The Fight Club of it all
21:00 – Gender and characterization, fave characters
28:11 – How Bottoms upends norms towards gay youth
37:00 – Favorite line or scene
40:57 – Susie thinks about the signs in Bottoms
43:36 – Interview with Susie Dumond about her new book Looking for a Sign!
1:15:04 – Live listener feedback on Come and Get It! 
1:21:22 – What’s up next?

Is your credit card tingling? That’s because this week we’re talking about A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon. Join the squad for a discussion about the magical rules of this book, climate change as a villain, magical girl romance hopes, and how the book pushes against magical girl type. Then we get into some listener feedback about Come and Get It. (Do you have feedback? Send it to us!) Get ready for our next Othersode on 7/23 where Susie Dumond, author of Looking for a Sign, will join us to talk about Bottoms. Then read along for our next Bookpisode about Happiness Falls by Angie Kim on 8/6. 

TOC:
0:30–Welcome! And icebreaker
8:42–Book intro
11:46–How this book subverts genre
21:00–Monster of the week v. bigger issues
31:15–Magical girl romance
33:26–evil magical girls
39:15–ratings and graphic design corner
44:45–Listener feedback!
46:29–What’s up next?

Links:
It’s Never Too Late to Be a Magical Girl! – https://bookriot.com/read-this-book-july-5-2024/
The Evolution of the Magical Girl in Manga and Anime - https://bookriot.com/evolution-of-the-magical-girl/

It’s Mary’s Big Baby Bonanza! And we’re celebrating with unhinged presentations on niche topics followed by baby gifts! Come party with us and learn about everything from US presidents to Vampire Potter fanfic to phantom jellyfish, and a bunch of other random things along the way. Join us on July 9th for a Bookpisode on A Magical Girl Retires by Seolyeon Park. Then get ready for a special Othersode featuring Susie Dumond, author of Looking for a Sign on July 23rd. Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review!

TOC: 
:30 – Welcome! And welcome special guest Todd!
9:00 – Todd, President Two Truths and a Lie
20:00 – Emily, Sailor Moon
31:09 – Susan, Women’s Tennis is Better
42:00 – Kelli, My Immortal
57:00 – Mary, Things I Google at 3AM
1:22:07 – Presents for baby!
1:34:30 – Listener Feedback! 
1:36:00 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?