Today we're convening our Book Club for a deep discussion on Emily Henry's newest release, Funny Story!

Join us for a discussion of the key plot points, the characters, and find out where we rank this book in the Emily Henry universe. You will feel like you're chatting with your friends about this book, so join in on the conversation with today's episode!

Plus, Emily's recent read, Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld.

Join us today for a little wine and cheese pairing, if you will. That's right, we're picking out some of our favorite books and pairing them up with the perfect companion Taylor Swift song and lyrics.

Books Mentioned: 

• Circe by Madeline Miller
• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma Alban
• The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
•  All the Young Dudes by MsKingBean89 

Plus, check out this Count of Monte Cristo playlist by Emily. And here's some more reading about the (mostly joking) theory that TS is a fanfiction author: #SwiftKingBean89.

Don't forget to join us in our NEXT EPISODE on Tuesday, May 7 for our full thoughts on Emily Henry's Funny Story.  See you next time! 

For today's episode, we are swapping reads that challenge our literary comfort zones. Emily chose One Day by David Nicholls for Abigail to read, and Abigail selected Heartsopper, vol. 1 by Alice Oseman for Emily to read. We're sharing our thoughts, FEELINGS, expectations, and recommendations after reading each other's chosen books. 

In addition, we're recommending recent reads including...

• Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
• Asiri and the Amaru by Natalia Hernandez

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @readirectpodcast for more! 

Today, we're inviting you along for an intimate book club discussion that's all about our recent book goals. 

We're talking about the following books...

• Bride by Ali Hazelwood
• The Wallflower Series
• Chain-Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

And exciting upcoming relesaes...

• The Guncle Abroad
• The Paradise Problem 
• One of Us Knows
• Funny Story by Emily Henry (Join us for book club in May!)
• Not in Love
• The Rom-Commers

Today, we're revisiting a childhood favorite, "The Boxcar Children" by Gertrude Chandler Warner.  Diving into the historical context surrounding the tale's publication, we discuss the stark differences between the 1924 original and the 1942 revision, revealing how time can color a story's message.

Take the Personality Quiz!
Explore the Boxcar Children Cookbook (someone please order this so we can know what's inside.)

Recent Reads:

• Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody
• Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty

Follow us on Instagram @readirectpodcast!

Crack open the pages of controversy with us as we venture through the tangled web of banned and challenged books.  Today, we're drafting our team of banned books, each picking three books we love that are frequently banned or challenged.

Join us and discover how these books are more than just stories; they're crucial conversations on racism, marginalized communities, and the raw truths of adolescence that are at risk of being silenced.

Team Abigail: 

• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
• Looking for Alaska by John Green
• The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Team Emily: 

• A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J Gaines
• Native Son by Richard Wright
• Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

Plus, books we've read lately:

• Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
• Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
• The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang

Follow us on Instagram at @readirectpodcast! 

Join us as we sit down with debut-author Jason Kirk, whose novel "Hell is a World Without You" paints a visceral portrait of life growing up in the grip of Southern evangelical culture.

Whether or not your story follows a similar path to main-character Isaac's, we think you'll find something to relate to in this novel. Join us as we sit down for an interview with the author!

Prior to February 17, 2024, all proceeds from this book will be donated to the Trevor Project.

Hell is a World Without You:
Rarely has an Evangelical upbringing been depicted with the relentless honesty, wide-ranging empathy, and Superbad-meets-Siddhartha playfulness of HELL IS A WORLD WITHOUT YOU. During the time of Pizza Hut buffets, 9/11, and all-night Mario Kart parties, a grieving teenager faces a mortal crossroads: fire-and-brimstone certainty vs. forbidden love. And whether or not you've ever begged God to delay the Rapture (so you could have time to lose your virginity), that kid's story is about you.

Ever find yourself in a literary rut, wondering what book to pick up next? Fear not, we are here with a treasure trove of curated reads that promise to ignite your passion for books. 

We asked our listeners to share their recent favorite and least favorite reads, and created a list of personalized recommendations for them! 

Here's a list of our recommendations:

• Anything by Lucy Foley  (The Paris Apartment,  The Guest List, The Hunting Party)
• Unmissing by Minka Kent
• Force of Nature by Jane Harper 
• The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
• A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
• In the Waning Light by Loreth Ann White
• Tell Me Everything by Erika Krouse
• The House Across the Lake or The Only One Left by Riley Sager
• The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
• The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
• The Secrets we Kept by Lara Prescott
•  Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
• The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert
  
  

It's a jam-packed Book Talk episode today, as we have A LOT to discuss.

First, we're talking Manacled, the Dramione story that rivals the original Harry Potter series. Emily may have gone on a deep dive into more Draco/Hermione pairings, and is also recommending Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love. To avoid Manacled spoilers, skip to 18:20.

Then we're talking recent problematic author Cate Corrain's review-bombing & subsequent lost book deal. And how not to write an apology note.

Finally, we're skimming over Gyspy Rose Blanchard's new "book", and looking forward to the day she actually releases her real memoir. Until then, this will suffice, we suppose.

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @readirectpodcast! Catch you on the flippity flip. 

We're back from holiday break with a fresh episode where we recap our recent reads and look forward to 2024. 

Books Mentioned

• I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
• Two Dead Wives by Adele Parks
• Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
• Heartstopper (series) by Alice Oseman
• Joseph Smith and the Mormans by Noah Van Sciver
• Manacled (fanfiction) by senlinyu

Plus, a Sam Claflin Count of Monte Cristo mini-series in 2024? Count us in (wink).

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram at @readirectpodcast.