Kirsty and Naomi discuss two books about unconventional women: Miss Iceland by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, translated by Brian FitzGibbon, and Come to the Edge by Joanna Kavenna.

Also mentioned:

The Lasting Harm by Lucia Osborne-Crowley

The Caretaker by Ron Rash

Kirsty and Naomi discuss two non-fiction books by Black American women: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson and Don’t Let It Get You Down by Savala Nolan.

Also mentioned:

Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Kirsty and Naomi discuss two books about immigration set largely on the US/Mexico border: Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera, translated by Lisa Dillman, and Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia.

Also mentioned:

Rental Person Who Does Nothing by Shoji Morimoto, translated by Don Knotting

No Small Thing by Orlaine McDonald

Kirsty and Naomi discuss two queer horror short story collections: Things We Say in the Dark by Kirsty Logan and Parallel Hells by Leon Craig.

Also mentioned:

Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne

My Good Bright Wolf by Sarah Moss

Kirsty and Naomi discuss two novels about people in their 20s: The Bricks That Built the Houses by Kae Tempest and Rainbow Milk by Mendez.

Also mentioned:

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh by Ingrid Persaud

Kirsty and Naomi discuss two Scottish coming of age novels: O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker and The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan.

Also mentioned:

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Pity by Andrew McMillan

Kirsty and Naomi discuss two books about mothers and daughters: Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au and Oldladyvoice by Elisa Victoria.

Also mentioned:

Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel

Entitlement by Rumaan Alam

Kirsty and Naomi discuss two books about bears: Deaf at Spiral Park by Kieran Devaney and Bear by Marian Engel.

Also mentioned:

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

The Horse by Willy Vlautin

Kirsty and Naomi discuss two non-fiction books about music: This Woman’s Work, edited by Sinéad Gleeson and Kim Gordon and A Little Devil in America by Hanif Abdurraqib.

Also mentioned:

Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley

Ti Amo by Hanne Ørstavik, translated by Martin Aitken

Kirsty and Naomi discuss two chunky historical novels: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

Also discussed:

Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad

James by Percival Everett