For some reason we discuss have 2 minutes of discussion about Sisqó at the beginning of this episode. Feel free to fast forward to the 7 minute mark. Eventually we discuss the book Once and Future.

In this short take, Lindsey sells us on reading Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera.

Also Cash Money talks up Laini Taylor and Cerce by Madeline Miller.

Nathan talks briefly about Anna-Marie McLemore.

And Nate has an exciting, but totally untrue, announcement.

We took a week off for Labor Day (gotta support the labor movmnt!)

In this episode we discuss the book Spin by Lamar Giles. Nate hijacked the opening and took us through a breakneck speed. Just like the book, we get right to business. I hope it lives up to our standards (*ahem* I know, you're asking, "you have standards"?) because the book is great!

Lindsey suggests On the Come Up by Angie Thomas.

Nate suggests Jo Nesbø's Harry Hole series (start with Flaggermusmannen—or The Bat if you read it in English).

Molly suggests Heavy Vinyl by Carly Usdin.

Cash Money suggests Veronica Mars.

working on my vacation and left some files at work, so this one lacks some of the polish you may be accustomed to (ha!). Hopefully, it feels like you are in the room where it all happens.

Nate suggests Friday Night Lights

Molly suggests My Brother's Husband by Gengoroh Tagame

Cash Money suggests Euphoria and Girl Mans Up by M.E. Girard

We discuss Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan. Molly spends the middle of the episode embodying the character Chelsea.

Molly suggests The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer, Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts)by Lev AC Rosen, I Kill The Mockingbird by Paul Acampora, and How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation by Maureen Johnson

Lindsey suggests The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

by E. Lockhart, Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu.

Cash Money suggests Can We All Be Feminists?: New Writing from Brit Bennett, Nicole Dennis-Benn, and 15 Others on Intersectionality, Identity, and the Way Forward for Feminism edited by June Eric-Udorie, and the show Chambers on Netflix.

In this episode we discuss We Set The Dark on Fire by debut author Tehlor Kay Mejia.

The panelists in the room all thought the book had potential, but we all wanted more. We hope our discussion is substantive and constructive. We know the book got some starred reviews, so we're interested in hearing from people who really loved it.

Also beware there are Mockingjay spoilers in our readalikes section.

Molly suggests The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Cash Money suggests The Selection by Kiera Cass.

Nathan suggests Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.

Marvel at Lindsey's book talking abilities as she seems to persuade one sighing panelist into giving Jeff Zentner's new book Rayne & Deliliah's Midnite Matinee a shot.

We recorded this discussion waaaaaay back when we could still have Kim around to talk about books with. She's doing committee work that means she can't really talk to us about any YA books this year. We miss her, so we figured you might too.

This discussion gets off to a less than professional start because we were intending to talk about a different book, but the gravity of this one pulled us in at the mention of its name. We forgot to read a passage or do the other niceties we normally do to make stuff sound more like a show and less like a free for all. Please enjoy a closer glimpse into our process (light editing).

Readalikes include:

NATE

And I Darken by Kiersten White

Deadwood

KIM

Red Dead Redemption

MOLLY

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

Firefly

AMY

Westworld

NATHAN

Sally Lockhart series by Philip Pullman

LINDSEY

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

CASH MONEY

That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E. K. Johnston

We chat about the Pride and Prejudice Remix PRIDE by Ibi Zoboi.

Readalikes?

MOLLY

Jake, reinvented by Gordon Korman (a Great Gatsby rewrite)

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart (a Talented Mr. Ripley rewrite)

NATHAN

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

NATE

Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

LINDSEY

In the Heights by Quiara Alegría Hudes & Lin-Manuel Miranda

In this episode we discuss Sadie by Courtney Summers. The conversation bounces around to journalism and true crime writing.

We offer Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston and Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis as readalikes.