In today's episode, you'll be listening to a buddy-read discussion of The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray.

Tune in to hear Jay and the other book club members chat about their thoughts on this book and the impression it left on them.

*Some of the contents discussed in this episode could be considered a spoiler.

What we talked about:

• Our first impressions of the book.
• Belle as a confident and powerful female figure.
• The dangers of passing.
• The mental toll of passing.
• Our thoughts on Belle's life with her family.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
• The First Ladies by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

All book links above are affiliate links. By purchasing the books through the links What Ya Reading? Podcast, will earn a small commission.

Other links mentioned in this episode:

• The Gilded Age on HBO
• Downton Abbey on Prime
• Photo of Richard Theodore Greener (Belle's father)
• Photos and more info on Belle da Costa Greene
• More info on The Morgan Library & Museum
• Art Collection of Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz
• National Museum of African America History & Culture

Final Thoughts:

• Follow Jay on Instagram @bookswithjaybraggs
• Join us on the Geneva App for our February read of Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall.
• For inquiries please email [email protected] .
• Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to the podcast.

Time management is a skill that we could all improve on. In today's episode, Jay and her guest Erica dive into the world of productivity and the books that can help us create more effective practices.

Tune in as they chat about the reads that can support our goals of mastering our time, prioritizing tasks, and carving out space for self-care. This episode is especially for those who are multi-passionate and who are juggling content creation, business building, and/or chasing their dreams.

What we talked about:

• What we look for in personal development books
• Why we should care about learning to manage our time better
• Creating time and space for the things we want to do
• Learning to create structure and routines that work for us
• Learning to be flexible as content creators

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Fractional Leadership by Ben Wolf
• 100 Days of Believing Bigger by Marshawn Evans Daniels
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
• Drop The Ball by Tiffany Dufu
• Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
• Push by Sapphire
• Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
• Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
• Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
• Spare by Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex
• Thicker Than Water by Kerry Washington
• The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey
• More Myself by Alicia Keys

All book links above are affiliate links. By purchasing the books through the links What Ya Reading? Podcast, will earn a small commission.

Connect with today's guest:

• Connect with Erica on Instagram @edmconsulting
• Connect with Erica on Facebook
• Download Erica's freebie - Dream & Thrive
• Visit Erica online edmconsultingllc.com

Final Thoughts:

• Follow Jay on Instagram @bookswithjaybraggs
• Join us on the Geneva App for our February read of Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
• For inquiries please email [email protected]
• Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to the podcast

In honor of Black History Month, I wanted to share some reading suggestions. Tune in to hear recommendations from a variety of genres, including romance, historical fiction, thriller, horror, fantasy, and non-fiction. I also share some recommendations from a few of my bookish friends.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Anything by author Kennedy Ryan

• This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

• Anything by author Tia Williams

• A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

Romance Recommendations

• Only For The Week by Natasha Bishop

• Fake It Til You Bake It by Jamie Wesley

• A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley

• Zora Books Her Happy Ever After by Taj McCoy

• The Good Ones Are Taken by Taj McCoy

• Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

• Restore Me by JL Seegars

• Revive Me by JL Seegars

Other Book Recommendations

• Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

• The Blond Dies First by Joelle Wellington

• The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

• Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb

• Amari and the Night Brothers B. B. Alston

• Amari and the Great Game by B. B. Alston

• The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson

• Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

• Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Non-Fiction Recommendations

• When Crack Was King by Donovan X. Ramsey

• How The Word Is Passed by Clint Smith

• Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

• Black AF History by Michael Harriot

Recommendations From Bookish Friends

• @janettebraggs - Only For The Week by Natasha Bishop

• @shesareader_ - The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

• @thriftsandtangles - Even The Rat Was White by Robert Guthrie

• @blackbiracialandbookish - The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

• @chanels.library - Jackal by Erin E. Adams

Books On My February TBR

• The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin

• The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

• All About Love by Bell Hooks

• This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

• Passing by Nella Larsen

• The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon

• American Royalty by Tracey Livesay

• Kindred by Octavia Butler

• Sing Me To Sleep by Gabi Burton

• Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

• Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

All book links above are affiliate links. By purchasing the books through the links What Ya Reading? Podcast, will earn a small commission.

Other links mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 5 - Reading Wrap Up

• Episode 6 - Reading Goals for the New Year

• StoryGraph to check potential trigger warnings

• The Ripped Bodice Bookstore

Final Thoughts:

• Follow Jay on Instagram @bookswithjaybraggs

• Join us on the Geneva App for our February read of Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall.

• For inquiries please email [email protected] .

• Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to the podcast.

African mythology has always been a major influence on literature. In today's episode, Jay sits down with fellow book club member Taylore to talk about some of their favorite books that draw upon African Mythology and Folklore.

Tune in to hear them chat about the books they believe embody the theme of Black Girl Magic and their thoughts on seeing African Mythology represented more in mainstream books.

What we talked about:

• Exploring the term Black Girl Magic

• Finding African Mythology novels

• The role of women in African Mythology

• The concept of the divine feminine

• African-American Folklore

• Writing similarities between N. K. Jemisin and Toni Morrison

• Mermaids in current books

• Should African Mythology be considered classical literature

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

• Othello by William Shakespeare

• The Changeling by Victor Lavalle

• The Changeling by Thomas Middleton

• Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

• Kane Chronicles (Rick Riordan Egyptian Series) by Rick Riordan

• Author Alice Walker

• Author Toni Morrison

• Author Paule Marshall

• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

• The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin

• The City We Became N. K. Jemisin

• Beloved by Toni Morrison

• Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

• Soul of the Deep by Natasha Bowen

• The Deep by Rivers Solomon

• Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton

• Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker

• High on the Hog by Jessica B. Harris

• Circe by Madeline Miller

• The Witch's Heart (Book about Lokis wife) by Genevieve Gornichec

• Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

• Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi

• Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

• West African Religion by Geoffrey Parrinder & Edwin Smith

• Forged By Blood by Ehigbor Okosun

• Daughters of Nri by Reni K. Amayo

• Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye

• The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

• Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

All book links above are affiliate links. By purchasing the books through the links What Ya Reading? Podcast, will earn a small commission.

Other links mentioned in this episode:

• The Little Mermaid

• High on the Hog on Netflix

• Percy Jackson on Disney+

Connect with today's guest:

• Follow Taylore on Instagram @taylore_fox

Final Thoughts:

• Follow Jay on Instagram @bookswithjaybraggs

• Join us on the Geneva App for our February read of Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall.

• For inquiries please email [email protected] .

• Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to the podcast.

On today's episode, Jay sits down with MJ, a multi-passionate influencer and online creator. They talk about The Big Leap by Gay Hendrix, which focuses on conquering hidden fears and taking life to the next level.

Tune in to hear them chat about how this book helped them explore the concept of self-sabotage with the hopes of overcoming it.

What we talked about:

• Being a multi-passionate person

• Overcoming hidden fears

• Understanding our upper limit

• Recognizing moments of self-sabotage

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Addy by Connie Porter

• The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

• The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins

Books links above may be affiliate links. By purchasing the books through the links What Ya Reading? Podcast, will earn a small commission.

Other links mentioned in this episode:

• American Girl Doll Series

• Mel Robbins on Instagram

Connect with today's guest:

• Follow MJ on Instagram @lifebymj

• Follow MJ on Facebook @lifebymj

• Check out MJ on Pinterest

• Watch MJ on YouTube

• Listen to MJ's podcast Life By MJ

• Visit MJ's website http://lifebymj.com/

Final Thoughts:

• Follow Jay on Instagram @bookswithjaybraggs

• Join us on the Geneva App for our February read of Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall.

• For inquiries please email [email protected] .

• Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to the podcast.

Living a more sustainable lifestyle may not sound very attainable, especially for a book lover. Our book collections bring us joy. But maybe there is a way that we can be more sustainable when adding to our collections.

Today, I'm sitting down with my friend Tyler to chat about what sustainability may look like for a book lover. We also discuss overconsumption, how it may apply to the book industry, and potential ways to be more eco-conscious.

What we talked about:

• What is sustainable living

• What happens to the books that we send to thrift stores

• Is overconsumption an issue in the book industry

• Exploring alternative ways to own books

• Remembering to shop in alignment with our values

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap

• The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

• We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers

• Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

• The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

• Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

• Big Thrift Energy by Virginia Chamlee

• Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone

• Biting The Hand by Julia Lee

• Historically Black Phrases by Jarrett Hill (Author) Tre'vell Anderson

• 10 Things I Love About You! by Danielle McLean

• The Afro Minimalist Guide to Living with Less by Christine Platt

• Consumed by Aja Barber

• Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

• All About Love by Bell Hooks

• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

• Wear It Well by Allison Bornstein

All book links above are affiliate links. By purchasing the books through the links What Ya Reading? Podcast, will earn a small commission.

Other links mentioned in this episode:

• Tori Dunlap on Instagram

• The True Coast Documentary

• River Blue Documentary

• Essence Magazine

• Jet Magazine

• Libby library app

• Bookshop.org

• Thriftbooks.com

• Allison Bornstein on Instagram

• Tyler's sustainable wedding content

Connect with today's guest:

• Follow Tyler on Instagram

• Follow Tyler on YouTube

• Visit Tyler's website www.thriftsandtangles.com

Final Thoughts:

• Follow Jay on Instagram @bookswithjaybraggs

• Join us on the Geneva App for our February read of Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

• For inquiries please email [email protected]

• Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to the podcast

When I sat down to record Episode 7 with Shanell, we had no idea that the conversation would take us in so many different directions. While the main content can be found in the original episode, I also wanted to share some of the other things we talked about.

This conversation is what happens when I sit down with girlfriends to chat about a book and then up talking about life. This bonus content is a more personal episode.

Quick warning that some of the topics covered are about grief and struggles with Christianity. If that could potentially be triggering to you, please look at the timestamps below to skip over those sections.

What we talked about:

• 0:00 - Introduction

• 1:38 - Big Magic & Flowers in the Attic

• 3:12 - Remembering the challenges of adolescence

• 4:54 - The importance of empathy for children

• 6:20 - Exploring the book It's Not Supposed to Be This Way + shifting away from "the church"

• 7:16 - Reading with the Women's Ministry

• 9:11 - Passing of Shanell's mother and grief

• 16:26 - Writing a book

• 20:34 - Closing chapters and pivoting

• 24:39 - A book that Shanell wouldn't want to read

• 27:47 - Outo

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

• Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews

• Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst

• Untamed by Glennon Doyle

• Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

All book links above are affiliate links. By purchasing the books through the links What Ya Reading? Podcast, will earn a small commission.

Other links mentioned in this episode:

• Luvvie on Instagram

• Luvvie's Book Academy program

• Episode transcript

Connect with today's guest:

• Connect with Shanell on Instagram @shanelltyus

• Visit Shanell's website www.talentamplifyher.com

• Learn more about the Strength to Strategy Collab

• Grab Shanell's affirmation cards HERE.

Final Thoughts:

• Follow Jay on Instagram @bookswithjaybraggs

• Join us on the Geneva App for our December Buddy Read - The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

• For inquiries please email [email protected]

• Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to the podcast.

We all have creative dreams. But sometimes we struggle taking action on those ideas. In today's episode, I sat down with my guest Shanell to explore the mindset shifts that she learned from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. She reveals how this book helped her in her life, her business, and on her creative journey. We also talked about other books that ignite creativity and spark our imagination when we need it most.

What we talked about:

• Our thoughts on Big Magic.

• Learning what we need from the books we pick up.

• How Big Magic suggests we deal with fear.

• The concept of "feeling the fear, and doing it anyway".

• Understating failure and success when it comes to doing something that you are passionate about.

• 4 core principles in Big Magic - Courage, Enchantment, Permission, and Persistence

• What you will not get from reading this book and how that could be beneficial.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

• It's Not Supposed To be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst

• Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst

• What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harris

• Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews

• Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

• Feeding the Soul by Tabitha Brown

• Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed

• The Four Agreements by Janet Mills and Don Miguel Ruiz

• Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

• Geronimo Stilton and the Kingdom of Fantasy by Geronimo Stilton

• The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary and Jacqueline Rogers

• Roald Dahl Set (Fantastic Mr. Fox) by Roald Dahl

• Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

• The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

• Untamed by Glennon Doyle

All book links above are affiliate links. By purchasing the books through the links What Ya Reading? Podcast, will earn a small commission.

Other links mentioned in this episode:

1. Shop Jay's Pango page

Connect with today's guest:

1. Connect with Shanell on Instagram @shanelltyus

2. Visit Shanell's website www.talentamplifyher.com

3. Learn more about the Strength to Strategy Collab

4. Grab Shanell's affirmation cards HERE.

Final Thoughts:

1. Follow Jay on Instagram @bookswithjaybraggs

2. Join us on the Geneva App for our December Buddy Read - The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

3. For inquiries please email [email protected]

4. Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to the podcast.

2024 is gearing up to be an amzing reading year. At least, that's what it feels like.

In today's episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to a special guest: my little sister! We sat down over the holidays to chat about our general reflections on our 2023 reads and unveil our goals for 2024.

Tune in to hear us discuss our thoughts on bookish trends on social media and the adjustments we're eager to implement in our reading lives.

What we talked about:

• General thoughts about our 2023 reading.

• Our reading goals for 2024.

• Book trends on social media.

• What we do and don't want to see in books in 2024.

• Changes we want to make to our reading life.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser & Robyn Smith

• The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D Jackson

• A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas

• Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

• Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

• A Christmas to Remember by Beverly Jenkins

• Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

• Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

• The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

• Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-García

• I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

• The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin (The Great Cities Dualogy)

• Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

• Restore Me by Janil Seegars

• Only For The Week by Natasha Bishop

• The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

• The Art of Scandal by Regina Black

• The Nanny by Lana Ferguson

• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

• The Firth Season by N. K. Jemisin

• Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston

• The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

• The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

• Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker

• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

• The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

• Wicked by Gregory Maguire

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

• A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

• Snow King Catches His Snowflake by A.E. Valdez

2024 releases we are excited for:

• This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

• The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest

• A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

• Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

• Blood Justice by Terry J. Benton-Walker

• So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

• The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

• To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang

• A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

• The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

• The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington

• Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron

All book links above are affiliate links. By purchasing the books through the links What Ya Reading? Podcast, will earn a small commission.

Other links mentioned in this episode:

1. Storygraph

2. The Ripped Bodice

Connect with today's guest:

1. Follow Janette on Instagram @janettebraggs

Final Thoughts:

1. Follow Jay on Instagram @bookswithjaybraggs

2. Join us on the Geneva App for our December Buddy Read - The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

3. For inquiries please email [email protected]

4. Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to the podcast.

Reading to support our mental health journey is important. But, it can be difficult to find helpful and relatable options.

Our guest Arienne works closely with mental health professionals and is here to share her thoughts about the evolving nature of "self help" books. Tune in to hear about what we look for in supportive mental health materials and the reads that have helped us on our self-exploration journey.

What we talked about:

• Mindset shifts around finances and creating wealth.

• What we consider a mental health book.

• Figuring out what we need from materials that support our wellness journey.

• The shift in the self-help and mental wellness space.

• Thoughts around the terms self-exploration and discovery.

• The stigma around self-help books.

• Tips for finding supportive mental wellness books.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers

• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

• All About Love by Bell Hooks

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk

• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

• Shifting: The Double Lives of Black Women in America by Charisse Jones & Kumea Shorter-Gooden

• The Doll House Murders by Betty Ren Wright

• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Some book links above may be affiliate links. By purchasing the books through the links What Ya Reading? Podcast will earn a small commission.

Other links mentioned in this episode:

1. Living Single episode with Jasmine Guy (Season 3 - Episode 19)

Connect with today's guest:

• Follow Arienne on Instagram and Facebook @thememorablepractice

• Connect with Arienne online at https://thememorablepractice.com/

• Business inquires at https://thememorablepractice.com/schedule

Final Thoughts:

1. Follow Jay on Instagram @bookswithjaybraggs

2. Join us on the Geneva App for our December Buddy Read - The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

3. For inquiries please email [email protected]

4. Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to the podcast.