Busy Girls Book Club

160: Busy Girls Book Club Awards 2025

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In our most diverse reading year yet, what books stood out? What books fell flat? And what book ruled them all?

159: Omens and Adventure in "The Knight and the Moth"

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We return to a world created by Rachel Gillig, and it once again did not disappoint. "The Knight and the Moth" tells another dark fairytale where girl...

158: Shakespeare from Stage to Novel to Screen in "Hamnet"

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hamnet is a reimagining of the life of William Shakespeare's wife and children. It's an interesting historical fiction thought exercise, and its new m...

157: The Role "Dungeon Crawler Carl" Plays in LitRPG

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the best "hear me out..." books may be Matt Dinniman's "Dungeon Crawler Carl". It's a LitRPG that reads like a video game but is somehow still ...

156: Meaningful Growth in "Morning Star"

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The third book in the Red Rising trilogy, "Morning Star" is quite the explosive finish. And it might include some of the best character development we...

155: "Done and Dusted": Save a Horse...

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You know how the song goes. Lyla Sage writes western romances, and TikTok girlies love a good themed romance. "Done and Dusted" will either make you w...

154: The Incredible Path of "Alchemised"

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Plenty of fan fictions have been traditionally published lately, but none took quite the rewrite "Alchemised" did. This one tops over 1,000 pages and ...

153: Mad About "Mate"

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Another Ali Hazelwood. Another book Casey refuses to read. Somehow the weirdest one yet? Video: https://youtu.be/ch5iys_dEjE

152: Girlhood, Girl Boss, "Girl Dinner"

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What is a "Good Woman"? What is power? Olivie Blake takes on these questions and more in "Girl Dinner". It includes some hard to digest themes. Pun in...

151: Troubling Tropes in "Tourist Season"

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Miscommunication - but make it serial killers. Brynne Weaver is back with yet another serial killer romance. How does this still work? Somehow, it doe...

150: Horror is Our History in "Witchcraft for Wayward Girls"

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Grady Hendrix makes a second pod appearance with "Witchcraft for Wayward Girls" and a deeply researched look at homes for unwed mothers in the 60s/70s...

149: A Spin on a Piece of History in "The First Witch of Boston"

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The First Witch of Boston tells the story of Margaret Jones, an actual woman who was put to death for witchcraft in the 1600s. However, it puts its ow...

Spooky Season 2025 Preview

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Boo! We're here on a random day of the week with a surprise preview of what this year's spooky season has to offer. Did we startle you?

148: Dark Academia Can't Get Darker Than "Katabasis"

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hell is other people. Academia is hell. Those all sound like enticing reasons to read "Katabasis" by R. F. Kuang. And while they are prevalent themes,...

147: "Golden Son" and the Space Opera

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Red Rising fans are torn on whether book one or book two - "Golden Son" - are the better story. The Busy Girls are in agreement, though. What was sort...

146: A Warm Hug from "The House in the Cerulean Sea"

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Burton, if you're listening, we want you to produce this movie. TJ Klune's "The House in the Cerulean Sea" is an adventure in magical foster care ...

145: I Who Have a Lot to Say About "I Who Have Never Known Men"

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A plotless dystopian read with a nameless main character and no men. Do we have your attention? "I Who Have Never Known Men" is a fun thought exercise...

144: John Green is Back with "Everything is Tuberculosis"

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You probably read "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green. His new book is pretty much the opposite of that, but with a touch of the same voice he brin...

143: Three Years of Busy Girls Book Club

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're back! We are celebrating! We have games! Video: https://youtu.be/v2fXSczxCpo

142: Vampire Summer? "Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil"

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

V.E. Schwab is back with another tale that crosses centuries and explores love and desire. This time, it also explores female rage. Toxic lesbian vamp...

Busy Girls Bonus: July 2025 News

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Latest updates include: Project Hail Mary trailer People We Meet on Vacation trailer I'm Glad My Mom Died TV series Abby Jimenez Christmas surprise A...

141: The Girls Got Hold of "Red Rising"

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why do boys gatekeep some of the best sci-fi/fantasy? We certainly aren't afraid of big, wordy books. Pierce Brown's "Red Rising" has had a renewed in...

140: “Atomosphere”: Out of this world or failure to launch?

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We love a good Taylor Jenkins Reid story. The newest, "Atmosphere", has been creating a lot of buzz thanks to the anticipation of her fan base. A NASA...

139: "Silver Elite" ...Mystery or Mess?

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"Silver Elite" has been causing quite the stir in the online book community. Who is Dani Francis?? Is this book AI?? Is it political propaganda?? Or i...

138: Savoring Summer with "Tom Lake"

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ann Patchett wrote an excellent summer read in "Tom Lake." It's set on a lake and a cherry farm in Michigan in the summer. But it has some very deep t...

137: YA Romance to Cult Classic Meme: Tackling "Twilight"

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Yes. We are serious. Today we are talking about "Twilight." Two of us read it as kids, but one of us is joining the craze a little late. So what merit...

136: "North is the Night" and Political TikTok Authors

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Emily Rath became an overnight TikTok sensation for her political views and discourse with social media followers. She's known for her hockey roma...

135: Is "Big Swiss" a Big Miss?

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's no good way to describe "Big Swiss" succinctly. It's a bizarre adventure in trauma recovery with an unpredictable main character and a torrid ...

134: Chinese Myth in "Daughter of the Moon Goddess"

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Busy Girls Book Club loves a good retelling/reimagining of a classic myth. Daughter of the Moon Goddess is based in a Chinese myth about the woman...

133: Is "Say You'll Remember Me" a Memorable Romance?

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We are diving into popular booktok author Abby Jimenez for the first time with "Say You'll Remember Me." It deals with love and loss and tough family ...

132: The SJM Finale: "Kingdom of Ash"

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We have finally come to the end of our Sarah J. Mass journey. "Kingdom of Ash" finishes off the Throne of Glass series and is over 900 pages of pure e...

131: Has Ali Hazelwood Gone off the "Deep End"?

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, we're doing it. If you've seen the cover or read the disclaimer at the front, you know what we're getting into with Ali Hazelwood's "Deep End." A...

130: "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" Open to Interpretation

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a while since we did some thriller/horror, so this listener request was a fun one. Short and sweet, "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" takes re...

129: We Are "The Anxious Generation"

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Oh dear. This book may be about us. Dive into a non-fiction pick with us as we discuss The Anxious Generation as people who are living it. Video: http...

128: Something to Say in "Sunrise on the Reaping"

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Suzanne Collins is so back. Haymitch's games bring us back to the world of Hunger Games, and boy is it a doozy. Can we still find love in the YA dysto...

127: Questions About "Quicksilver"

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Quicksilver is the definition of a TikTok trending book. Is it more of the same Romantasy? Do we care? Video: https://youtu.be/ArP8LVQCrAY

126: Main Character Meh in "Glow of the Everflame"

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We are back with another Kindred's Curse book because we all organically continued the series. That should tell you something. Video: https://youtu.be...

125: Persia, Poetry and Politics in "Martyr!"

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"Martyr!" is an interesting collision of poetry and political identity that produces a unique narrative that also encompasses addiction and grief. Wha...

124: Anticipating Outer Space on the Silver Screen with "Project Hail Mary"

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Andy Weir is having a second outer space book adapted for film, and this time it's "Project Hail Mary." This story may have one of the best sidekick c...

123: "Year of Wonders" and the Black Plague

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Geraldine Brooks is an award winner for a reason, and we grabbed her historical fiction, "Year of Wonders." Based off of a true story of a plague vill...

122: Politics and Pure Fantasy Fun in "Spark of the Everflame"

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Penn Cole's "Spark of the Everflame" is the first in the Kindred's Curse series. While the discussion only covers the first book, it seems all of the ...

121: Onyx Storm: Unhinged

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anyone else thankful BookTok was unbanned before Onyx Storm came out? The fan theories out there are WILD. In this episode of entirely spoilers, we ta...

120: "Onyx Storm:" The Monster TikTok Made

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Book three of The Empyrean series is long awaited, but maybe we could have waited longer? The bar is set so very high for this BookTok darling. Can it...

119: A Not So Short "Intermezzo"

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sally Rooney apparently doesn't use quotation marks or complete sentences, but really likes long paragraphs and run-on sentences. Is it art to write a...

118: Patriarchy and Class Conflict in “The God of the Woods”

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is it a mystery, or is it a commentary on class struggles and the power of men? Liz Moore's "The God of the Woods" was an unexpected read. Beautiful s...

117: TikTok Made Us Do It: "Ice Planet Barbarians"

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

See trending books and review them... promise delivered. "Ice Planet Barbarians" somehow has enough of a cult following to have over 20 books in the b...

116: The Biggest Busy Girls Debate Yet? Discussing "When the Moon Hatched"

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you think we've argued over a book before, wrong. Now THIS is a true debate. Two romantasy lovers vs. a lit fic queen on the topic of "When the Moo...

115: Busy Girls Book Club Awards 2024

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look back at the best books of the year both on and off the podcast and talk through some superlative awards. Plus, find out the Busy Girls ...

114: "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" is not Relaxing

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What if you could take enough pills to sleep an entire year of your life away? It's a question no one asked but "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" tries...

113: FanFic-esque Romance in "Red, White & Royal Blue"

22 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Casey McQuiston is a leader in queer romance, even landing "Red, White & Royal Blue" on the big screen. Does the quality of the romance balance ou...

112: The Refreshingly Mysterious World of "The Fifth Season"

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sci-fi and fantasy meet in "The Fifth Season" in the best way possible. Does this book have a plot? Not really. But the Busy Girls couldn't put it dow...

111: "Chain-Gang All-Stars" and the U.S. Carceral System

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"Chain-Gang All-Stars" puts together a bunch of "what ifs?" and turns them into a nightmare near-future dystopian scenario where prisoners fight to th...

110: "The Games Gods Play" With Social Media Trends

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Abigail Owens' "The Games Gods Play" has taken BookTok by storm, but is it just more of the same in romantasy? Or does it bring something new to the t...

109: Award Winning "James"

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Percival Everett's retelling of Huckleberry Finn is raking in the awards this season, so it's the perfect time to discuss "James." The Busy Girls are ...

108: Voices of Vietnam in "The Women"

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We've been burned by Kristin Hannah before, but this one might change our minds. While it's certainly a long read, it provides tools to ask questions ...

107: Millennial Romance in "Seven Days in June"

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Busy Girls Book Club hosts tackle Tia William's millennial-coded romance, "Seven Days in June." Serious themes - like addiction and disability rep...

106: "What The River Knows" About YA Historical Magical Realism

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Young adult-historical-magical realism-romance, or whatever you want to call it, sums up Isabel Ibañez's "What The River Knows." But should it actual...

105: Serial Killers and Spice in "Butcher and Blackbird"

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who knew a rom com about serial killers with trigger warnings for accidental cannibalism would have the Busy Girls blushing! Is it enough to get a 5 s...

104: A Not So Spooky "The Spellshop"

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While it may be spooky season, "The Spellshop" ends up fitting more in the cozy category. But that's why the Busy Girls tackle the viral books. 

103: More Paranormal Historical Fiction? A Look at "Vampires of El Norte"

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What do you get when you combine Rome and Juliet, vampires, and the Mexican independence movements of the 1800s? Vampires of El Norte dives into this ...

102: A Muddled Murder Mystery in "The Maid"

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"The Maid" is billed as a murder mystery, but the bigger mystery is really the main character. Molly Gray lacks normal social cues and understanding, ...

Busy Girls Bonus: October 2024 News

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Busy Girls are back and we want to make sure you're up to date on some of the book world's biggest news from the last few weeks. 

101: Two Years of Busy Girls Book Club

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's our two year anniversary! Two years and 101 episodes and we couldn't be more grateful to our listeners! Thanks for joining us on this little hobb...

100: Busy Girls "Book Lovers" Celebrate 100 Episodes

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's our 100th episode! Thanks to our listeners for sticking with us so long! Today we tackle some fun discussion on the New York Times' 100 Best Book...

99: Niche History in "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store"

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

James McBride's "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store" takes a look at the intersection of marginalized communities in 1930s American. It's a long ride, a...

98: Ready to Face "The Future"?

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Naomi Alderman is a pro at imaging horrific future worlds, but what if this prediction of what's to come is a little closer to home in "The Future"? T...

97: Rewind, Repeat in "Tower of Dawn"

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many people credit "Tower of Dawn" as their least favorite book in the Throne of Glass series. It does totally re-cover the entire time period of the ...

96: One Dark Fairytale in "One Dark Window"

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"One Dark Window" would do the Brothers Grimm proud. It's a gateway fantasy book that could appeal to anyone with an extremely unique magic system and...

95: Emily Henry's "Funny Story" and the Summer Rom Com

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone wants a good beach read or vacation romance for the summer months, and Emily Henry reigns supreme lately. Does her latest summer story live u...

94: Heartache and "The Song of Achilles"

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's another Madeline Miller episode. Though, "The Song of Achilles" is much more melancholy than "Circe." It's a love story - but most people already...

93: Satire and Tropes Abound in "Assistant to the Villain"

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you love the quirky side of BookTok, you'll probably love "Assistant to the Villain." It's a cozy fantasy that sort of makes fun of all the usual f...

92: A Pulitzer-level Look at Appalachia in "Demon Copperhead"

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Barbara Kingsolver's "Demon Copperhead" is a beast of a book. It took the Busy Girls ages to read, but they all agree it's worth it. The look at the o...

91: The Modern Fantasy Formula in "A Fate Inked in Blood"

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The book social media world has been very excited to get their hands on a fantasy about norse mythology with "A Fate Inked in Blood." The question is:...

90: An Interview with "More Than Life" Author Bethanie Finger

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bethanie Finger is the author of a new YA historical fantasy triology. The Busy Girls got to chat with her about book one, "More Than Life." It's a gr...

89: Is "The Will of the Many" Worth your Will to Read?

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Will of the Many by James Islington is a beast of a book. BUT, it's rife with world building, complex political systems, unique magic systems and ...

88: Two Authors and a Story of Love Across Time

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two authors, two characters, and a novella with no rules about space or time... who wouldn't be curious? "This Is How You Lose the Time War" takes rea...

87: Kuang's Departure from Fantasty in "Yellowface"

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Busy Girls covered "Babel" by R.F. Kuang and had mixed feelings, but her new book "Yellowface" is the extreme opposite kind of book. Does that mea...

86: Here Comes "Bride"

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fans of Ali Hazelwood's normal STEM romances will knot expect what's coming in her newest release. (Misspelling intentional.) The Busy Girls are unsur...

85: Plotlines Converge in "Empire of Storms"

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Throne of Glass continues with "Empire of Storms." It's a long one and a lot happens, but readers are rewarded as various plots start to tie together ...

84: A Memoir About Dead Bodies Could Change the World with "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory" by Caitlin Doughty is not your average memoir. It mixes life, death, gallows humor and...

83: Something Completely New in Fantasy in "Immortal Longings"

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Trial to the death? Body jumping magic system? Setting as a character? Morally grey leads? "Immortal Longings" by Chloe Gong is something totally new ...

82: Memoir Meets Poetry "In the Dream House"

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A memoir on a queer abusive relationship might not sound like a must read, but Carmen Maria Machado's "In the Dream House" takes a poetic approach to ...

81: Middle Eastern Meets Fantasy in "The Jasad Heir"

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"The Jasad Heir" has a lot of classic fantasy tropes but takes place in a setting more akin to Egypt. It's a fresh setting and focused heavily on king...

80: Life Meets Art in "Open Water"

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"Open Water" is a sort of lyrical narrative that talks about the Black experience. The poetry aspect can be a bit hard to get into, but the book is sh...

79: The Trouble with Celebrity Memoirs and Prince Harry's "Spare"

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrity memoirs are a tough one to discuss. Should every celebrity have one? Should editors be kind because they're famous? Prince Harry's "Spare" g...

78: An Interview with Lauren Puckett-Pope of "ELLE"

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Busy Girls are joined by Lauren Puckett-Pope, staff culture writer at ELLE, to hear about how she chooses which books to cover for the magazine an...

77: SJM Stans Flummoxed after "House of Flame and Shadow"

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Your resident SJM stans have a lot to process after the release of Crescent City 3: "House of Flame and Shadow." Do we still love her books? Yes. Was ...

76: The Reading Order Debate of "Assassin's Blade"

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Katelyn's sister joins the Busy Girls to talk Throne of Glass' "Assassin's Blade" and where the short story compilation should fit into the series.

75: Novelty or Nonsense? A Deep Dive Into "Bunny"

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In one of the most polarizing episodes yet, the Busy Girls discuss TikTok sensation "Bunny" with the help of a special guest. This is new age horror, ...

74: A Fresh Breath in Fantasy with "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries"

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you love a whimsical tale of adventure into the realm of fae but are tired of the same cookie cutter fantasy we've been getting, Heather Fawcett br...

73: Love and War in "Ruthless Vows"

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The sequel to Rebecca Ross' "Divine Rivals" picks right back up in "Ruthless Vows." The end to the YA duology has been long awaited, but mostly by adu...

72: Fantasy and Fanfic in "The Hurricane Wars"

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Busy Girls love a good enemies to lovers fantasy novel with a dark brooding MMC and a sassy FMC. Does "The Hurricane Wars" qualify? Or is it just ...

71: The Long-lived Popularity of "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue"

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

V.E. Schwab turns what you think will be a cautionary tale into one of personal growth and resilience in this tale about making a deal with the devil....

70: Quickening the Pace with "Queen of Shadows"

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's Sarah J. Maas part...??? We lost track. If you're still with us, Queen of Shadows is a huge turning point in the Throne of Glass series. The book...

69: Busy Girls Book Club Awards 2023

01 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's that time! We take a look back at the best, worst, most overhyped, prettiest, etc. books we've read all year. AND we choose a Busy Girls Book of ...

68: Return to the Hunger Games with "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes"

25 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Every millennial was caught in the throes of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy. Now, a prequel to the series has been turned into a movie. So, if ...

67: Tentatively Entering the Cosmere with "Tress of the Emerald Sea"

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Brandon Sanderson has millions of fans, and it feels like nearly that many books. The Busy Girls dive into his Cosmere with cozy fairytale "Tress of t...

66: Iron Flame: Unhinged

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

THIS WHOLE EPISODE IS SPOILERS. Let's hear it for the TikTok girlies and their collective brain power. The Busy Girls are going to bring you BookTok l...

65: The Reign of "Iron Flame"

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you haven't read "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros, you probably live under a rock. Book two is here, and *oh boy* do the Busy Girls have a lot to di...

64: Gaining Real Momentum in "Heir of Fire"

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, it's the third book that really gets things going. The world gets so much bigger in "Heir of Fire" and...