Book Gang

The Beheading Game Reanimates Tudor History

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Rebecca Lehmann discusses The Beheading Game, a lyrical reimagining of Anne Boleyn awakening after her execution to reclaim her story. This week, we'r...

The Lady's Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness (Vault Session)

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In The Lady’s Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness, Sarah Ramey shares her journey through chronic illness and the medical system’s blind spots. Th...

March Book Club: The Mad Wife (Reader's Choice Selection)

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Bestselling author Meagan Church returns to discuss our March Book Club selection, The Mad Wife, and its whirlwind success. This month, we welcome Mea...

Where the Girls Were Brings a Mother's Haunting Story to Light

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Schatz joins the show to discuss Where the Girls Were, a novel inspired by the hidden history of maternity homes and the young women sent away du...

Lady Tremaine Reimagines Cinderella

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Hochhauser joins us to discuss her debut novel, Lady Tremaine, a reimagining of Cinderella told from the perspective of its most misunderstood ...

In the Shadow of the Brick Kilns of Pakistan (When the Fireflies Dance)

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Aisha Hassan discusses her debut novel, When the Fireflies Dance, a moving family saga set in Lahore and the research inspired by real stories of bond...

Little Movements: A Grown-Up Coming-of-Age in Motion

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Debut author Lauren Morrow joins us to discuss Little Movements, a sharp, funny, and deeply perceptive literary novel set in the world of professional...

February Book Club: People of Means

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Author Nancy Johnson joins us to discuss People of Means, our February Book Club selection for Black History Month, a powerful, moving dual-timeline n...

Family of Spies and the Secrets That Shaped a Family

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Christine Kuehn joins us to discuss Family of Spies and her gripping emotional reckoning with her family’s shocking personal ties to Nazi...

When Pain Becomes Content (Just Watch Me)

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Author Lior Torenberg unpacks her debut Just Watch Me, a darkly funny livestream novel that exposes the cost of performing pain online, and our hunger...

January Book Club: Eleanore of Avignon

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Author Elizabeth DeLozier joins us to discuss Eleanore of Avignon, our January Book Club pick, and her bold debut, shaped by plague, medicine, and fem...

The Best Books of 2025

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We read a total of 443 books and are excited to share twenty-five of our favorite titles from our 2025 reading list. Explore these new releases alongs...

How a Journey to the Arctic Shaped This Found-Family Story

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Head to the Arctic with Nathaniel Ian Miller and discover the true story that inspired his debut, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, for our final episode...

Your 2026 TBR Jumpstart With Backlist Picks

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get ahead of 2026’s biggest releases this year. We highlight ten must-read backlist books from authors with upcoming titles, so you have your best l...

Meet the 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join the 2026 MomAdvice Book Club to explore 12 handpicked novels, enjoy lively author chats, and celebrate a year of stories that inspire and delight...

How Marisa Kashino Landed the Deal for Best Offer Wins

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Marisa Kashino turns being new to publishing into a superpower, revealing her surprising journey from first draft to the darkly funny thriller, Best O...

Emma Pattee’s ADHD Trick That Brought Tilt to Life

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Discover the writing hack that Emma Pattee uncovered with a creativity coach, which helped her debut novel, Tilt, transition from her Google Drive to ...

How the Pagebound App Reinvents Social Reading

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Discover Pagebound, the social reading app by Lucy Zhao & Jennifer Dobak. Learn how to gamify your reading life from quests to forums in today's begin...

A Crash Course in Gothic Fiction With Erin Crosby Eckstine

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Take a crash course in Gothic fiction with Junie author Erin Crosby Eckstine as we trace the genre's origins, evolution, and enduring allure.Erin retu...

Inside Bindery Books with CEO Matt Kaye

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go behind the scenes with Bindery Books to discover their innovative publishing process, where tastemakers reshape how diverse books are made and sold...

How Olivia Muenter Went From "Recovering Influencer" to Bestseller

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Debut novelist Olivia Muenter joins Book Gang to discuss her hit debut, Such a Bad Influence, and the dark side of online fame in her real and imagine...

How Fanfic Led Ashley Jordan to a Reese's LitUp Fellowship

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Author Ashley Jordan joins Book Gang to share her LitUp Fellowship journey to launch her debut, Once Upon a Time in Dollywood, and how fanfiction pave...

Unmasking Hysteria in The Mad Wife with Author Meagan Church

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Author Meagan Church unpacks the hidden lives of women in her chilling novel, The Mad Wife, as we explore the history of hysteria in women's health di...

This Physician Shares Her Indie Publishing Journey

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Curious about indie publishing? Physician Paria Hassouri shares her debut journey to publish Harvesting Rosewater, centering a woman's midlife awakeni...

This Lambda Finalist Novel Will Break Your Heart

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In Anyone's Ghost, August Thompson captures the ache of growing up while growing as a writer after his hard-won pursuit of the MFA program at NYU.How ...

How Lake Union Helped Shape The Sideways Life of Denny Voss

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In The Sideways Life of Denny Voss, Holly Kennedy brings humor & heart to a neurodivergent hero, sharing how Lake Union Publishing shaped her journey....

How Aftertaste Lands the Genre-Bending Magic

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In her dazzling debut novel Aftertaste, Daria Lavelle takes us on a sensory journey where food, grief, & romance intertwine in this inventive ghost st...

The Rise of the Airport Novels With Tellthebeees

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok creator and pop-cultural sleuth Josh Lora (TellTheBeees) helps us build the ultimate Airport Novels book list to carry you through your next fl...

These Memorable Older Characters Wowed Us

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join Cindy from Thoughts from a Page as we explore unforgettable books featuring older characters. These are her top five picks that deserve space on ...

The Best Midlife Books to Inspire Your Next Chapter

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There is nothing more transformative than midlife stories, and Renee from It's Book Talk & More joins me to explore the books that reshape how we see ...

Mind-Bending Thrillers You Must Read Now

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dive into a stack of mind‑bending thrillers with Kate from Bookwild. Discover her top 5 speculative fiction picks in today's All-Star Book Influence...

When a Journalist Outgrows the Word Count

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Honor Jones discusses her debut novel, Sleep, which explores the #MeToo movement from childhood to the newsroom through a unique fictional ...

Why Finding Grace Is the Plot-Twist Novel of the Summer

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Holy plot twist! Loretta Rothschild shares her writing process for her buzzy debut, Finding Grace, where the opening sequence stuns in this spoiler-fr...

This Author Walked Away from Law—and Won Big

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lidija Hilje shares how her debut novel, Slanting Towards the Sea, and her own journey is shaped by second chances and the courage it required to begi...

A Professor Turns Sleuth in This Sharp Academic Mystery

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Zoe Wallbrook shares how her debut mystery, History Lessons, blends academia, amateur sleuthing, and suspense in this clever, twisty campus mystery wi...

How a Chemistry Major Wrote a High-Stakes Debut

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Not knowing the publishing rules helped Austin Taylor sell her debut, Notes on Infinity. From lab notes to spreadsheets, learn her data-driven approac...

Dolen Perkins-Valdez Writes Like Every Book Is Her Last

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dolen Perkins-Valdez shares the riveting history behind her new book, Happy Land, the research surprises she uncovered, and how urgency drives her sto...

Why Allegra Goodman Hid Her Isola Manuscript

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Allegra Goodman tells the surprising origin story of Isola—from a children's book discovery to immersive museum research—all written in complete s...

Milo Todd is Reclaiming Trans History

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Milo Todd discusses the research process for his debut, The Lilac People. This sweeping historical fiction novel shares a devastating chapter in trans...

Hit the Road with Annie Hartnett

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Annie Hartnett discusses the inspiration behind her quirky road trip novel The Road to Tender Hearts and why she breaks all the rules in writing her s...

This Raw Debut Shows Addiction's True Cost

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this Jessica Guerrieri interview, we discuss her debut, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, and how 12 years of sobriety shaped this unforgett...

2025 Summer Reading Guide

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The NEW 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide includes 56 titles, including upcoming releases, new releases, and backlist gems. Browse 39 pages of booki...

Writing Bestsellers With An ADHD Brain

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this Allison Larkin interview, we discuss writing Home of the American Circus and the creative writing routines that have transformed her life with...

Unboxing the Influencer Life Through Fiction

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're diving into a debut thriller that's frothy, funny, and unhinged in the best way. Liann Zhang joins me for a laugh-out-loud conversati...

The Evangelist Who Vanished and Returned

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Claire Hoffman unpacks Sister, Sinner, the gripping true crime story of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson’s disappearance and miraculous ...

How The Bright Years Was Paved Through Letters

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Damoff shares how The Bright Years evolved from an epistolary draft into a powerful multi-POV family saga exploring addiction across generations...

How Sarah Harman's Debut Took Publishing By a Storm

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Harman shares the journey behind All the Other Mothers Hate Me, from journalism to fiction, a fierce book auction, and its upcoming FX adaptatio...

How a Cozy Family Drama Made This Writer Fall in Love With His Craft

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jinwoo Chong celebrates food, family, & finding love in his cozy novel, I Leave It Up To You. Learn how this project helped him fall in love with writ...

Eowyn Ivey Returns to Magical Realism

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Eowyn Ivey joins us from Alaska to discuss her latest magical realism novel, Black Woods Blue Sky. Prepare to be transported by one of my favorite sto...

How Family History and Legacy Shaped Junie

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Erin Crosby Eckstine discusses her debut novel, Junie, and how her family history transformed her life from English teacher to chosen GMA Book Club no...

Libby’s Best Horror Books of 2024 and Exciting App Updates

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Paging library lovers- Joe from the Libby team is back to share the exciting app updates and his top five horror book recommendations from 2024 to rea...

The Best Books of 2024

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We read a total of 482 books and are excited to share fifteen of our favorite titles from our 2024 reading list. Explore these new releases alongside ...

The Best Agatha Christie Books Deep Dive Podcast

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Uncover the Agatha Christie beginner's guide with Victoria from The Reader's Couch! Explore her best-underrated gems and find new modern authors like ...

Meet the 2025 MomAdvice Book Club Books

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join the NEW 2025 MomAdvice Book Club and discover 12 incredible novels together along with many interactive author discussions for this year’s fest...

Your Gateway to Literary Fiction Books

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dive into the world of literary fiction books with Tina from Book Talk, etc. Discover her top 5 book recommendations for readers and why she loves the...

Redefining the Missing Girl Narrative With Emiko Jean

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Emiko Jean discusses flipping the script on the traditional missing girl narrative in her new police procedural, The Return of Ellie ...

How Braving a Literary Seminar Shaped The Lost Story (With Meg Shaffer)

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meg Shaffer takes us behind the scenes to the literary seminar with legendary writer Richard Russo, who helped her craft her cozy fantasy book, The Lo...

Crafting a Killer Redemption Story With Heart (Rob Hart Interview)

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rob Hart discusses his gripping novel, Assassins Anonymous, and the heartfelt storytelling approach that defines his work.When Steven Spielberg's prod...

Peek Inside This Disability-Inclusive Bookshop and Why it Matters

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Discover the best Disability Pride Books curated by Cindy Otis from The Stacks Bookstore, who offers readers a virtual tour of her disability-inclusiv...

Spinning a Bad Review Into Romantic Gold With Laura Hankin

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Laura shares the painfully hilarious real-life inspiration behind her novel, discussing how personal experiences with negative feedback trickled into ...

Nicola Yoon Discusses Her Provocative Debut (One of Our Kind)

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nicola Yoon discusses her provocative adult debut, One of Our Kind, and the surprising inspiration from The Stepford Wives that sparked her daring new...

Digital Dating Turns Deadly in This Debut Murder Mystery

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

L.M. Chilton reveals his surprising dating history that inspired his debut thriller, Swiped. After nearly a decade and 212 failed dates, L.M. Chilton...

2024 Summer Reading Guide

17 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The 2024 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide includes 35 titles, offering upcoming releases, new releases, and backlist gems.Grab your favorite summer beve...

The Best Backlist Books for Summer

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This special crossover episode with The Reader's Couch offers five backlist books for your summer and what it takes to nail a great summer reading g...

What Jeff Zentner Brings to the Romance World

26 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff Zentner discusses the inspiration for his emotional adult debut romance novel Colton Gentry's Third Act, which celebrates food, music, and second...

Surprising Truths About Grief With Amy Lin (Here After)

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amy Lin discusses her emotional debut memoir Here After. We discuss her surprising revelations about the grief process and better steps to show up for...

New Historical Fiction To Read in 2024

12 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This special crossover episode with Thoughts from a Page offers five new historical fiction books in 2024 to read now of compelling women throughout h...

The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives With Heart

29 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kennedy Ryan discusses her rise to the NYT bestseller list as a Black romance writer with moving advocacy for autism representation in This Could Be U...

Trapped in a Time Loop

15 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today's podcast, escape in a time loop novel. We discuss Groundhog Day books and the comforting ways repeating time travel can charm us in our book...

This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process

01 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Faceout Studio book designer Elisha Zepeda as he takes us on a journey from working in a bookstore to navig...

How Shark Heart Transformed Emily Habeck and Her Readers

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Habeck discusses her widely imaginative debut novel, Shark Heart, and how this writing project transformed her life and the lives of her readers...

The Most Unique Only One Bed Moments in Romance

02 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Sarah Adler discusses writing her quirky debut novel Mrs. Nash's Ashes and her favorite memorable "only one bed" momen...

Let's Head to Art School With These Amazing Books

19 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Head to art school with debut novelist Antonia Angress today. We discuss the inspiration for her debut novel, Sirens &...

The Best Books of 2023

06 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Cue the confetti! This week's episode shares the top fifteen books we have read this year after screening HUNDREDS of ...

Meet Our New Book Gang

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Meet MY new book gang collaboration with Victoria from The Reader's Couch Podcast and Cindy from Thoughts from a Pa...

The Magic of Belonging in Found Family Books

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!I’m thrilled to introduce you to our new contributor voice to the Book Gang podcast. Jessica Bearak is likely a fami...

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Announced (Part 2)

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join us in Part 2 of the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club as we unveil the second half of our carefully curated book selections and how to join!Cue the confet...

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Announced (Part 1)

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join us in Part 1 of the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club as we unveil the first half of our carefully curated book selections and how to join!Cue the confett...

The Best Reading Hacks for Chronic Pain

10 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Chronic pain shouldn't stop you from living your best reading life. A registered osteopath shares her surprising tips ...

Beautiful Lessons from a Book Club for Inmates

27 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Celebrate the feel-good moments and literary achievements of the Second Chance Book Club for inmates and their tireles...

Matt Cain's Publishing Journey: The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle

13 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Matt Cain discusses the challenging history in publishing for LGBTQ History Month. Discover the inspiration for his bo...

Celebrate LGBTQ History Month With This Curated Stack

29 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Debut novelist and senior advisor to the Library of Congress, Jeffrey Dale Lofton, discusses identity and self-discove...

The Best Motherhood Lessons from Literary Characters

15 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Celebrate literary lessons found in books about mothers! Adele Griffin shares her riveting surrogacy story in her debu...

The Remarkable Murder Mystery Book That Changed Everything

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Dreaming of writing a murder mystery book? Listen to the inspiring story of a mother and daughter who crafted their wh...

The Fiona Davis Interview You Need to Hear

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Join us as Fiona Davis, the acclaimed author of seven historical fiction novels, delves into her latest historical fic...

The Best Sober Memoirs to Read Now

04 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Emily Lynn Paulson discusses her eye-opening memoir, Hey, Hun. Learn how rising to the top of an MLM led to her addict...

The Magic of Old Hollywood Books

21 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Molly Fader discusses her remarkable historical fiction novel, The Sunshine Girls, and collection of Old Hollywood boo...

The Best Con Artist Queens in Literature

07 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Wendy Heard discusses her con artist book of the summer, You Can Trust Me. Learn what it takes to write a thriller & g...

The Best Debut Novels of 2023 (So Far)

23 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Thao Thai discusses her multigenerational debut novel, Banyan Moon, a Vietnamese tale that transports readers. We also...

The Best Wedding Themed Rom-Com Books

09 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Byron Lane joins the podcast to discuss his charming fictional wedding rom-com book, Big Gay Wedding, and top book rec...

The Best Escapist Island Books

26 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Escape real life with the best island books. Learn why The Wishing Game is just the book escape you need with our inte...

2023 Summer Reading Guide

12 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Join me as we dive into our summer reading guide with my literary treasure trove of 37 handpicked book recommendations...

The Best Historical Fiction Books For Summer

28 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

 SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Debut novelist Crystal Smith Paul joins the podcast to discuss her historical fiction book, Did You Hear About Kitty...

The Spectacular Life Lessons from Books About Road Trips

14 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Hit the open road with these books about road trips. Let's hop in the getaway car and learn what it takes to write a g...

Best Book Club Books to Spark Conversation

31 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Looking for the best book club books for a thought-provoking chat? These book club picks are page-turners curated by h...

The Best Life Lessons from Time Travel Books

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Join us for an episode of mind-bending time travel exploration with award-nominated novelist and screenwriter Cesca Ma...

The Celebrity Book Club Deep Dive Episode You Need

03 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Take a deep dive into the world of celebrity book clubs! Explore how Hollywood and literature collide with Oprah, Reese, and Jenna impacting publishin...

More Asian American Authors to Read Now

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Expand your library with new Asian American authors. Celebrate fresh AAPI voices with debut novelist Kristen Mei Chase on today's podcast.In today's B...

The Best Coming of Age Books To Read Now

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Get ready to relive those coming-of-age moments and feel like a kid again on today's show.  What's better than being ...

The Galentine's Day Entertainment Recommendations You Need Now

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

SUPPORT MY WORK through Patreon!Let’s celebrate this unofficial Galentine’s Day holiday because ladies celebrating ladies is ALWAYS a good thing. ...