Best BookSquadGoals Podcasts (2025)

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BSG #110: Clear Lesbian Tendencies / The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica 1:18:08

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8d ago1:18:08

1:18:08

In a post-apocalyptic world, a mysterious convent is some women’s only hope for survival, but when the beautiful Lucia enters the scene, the unnamed narrator feels inspired to get to the bottom of the convent’s many secrets. This week, Emily, Mary, and Kelli discuss Agustina Bazterrica’s The Unworthy, covering everything from the structure of the c…

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Othersode #109: Another Thing / The Thing with Paul Tremblay 1:42:18

22d ago1:42:18

1:42:18

Horror author Paul Tremblay joins us for ANOTHER episode, this time to discuss John Carpenter’s The Thing. Then, we turn our lens to Paul as we talk about his latest book, Another, a horror tale geared at younger readers. Tune in for our next episode where we will discuss The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica on September 2 (and follow along on our F…

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BSG #109: Everyone is Mother (Slay) / Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata 1:27:34

1M ago1:27:34

1:27:34

Mary, Kelli, and Emily convene to talk about Vanishing World, the latest work by Sayaka Murata to be translated into English. When Amane finds out she was conceived in an unnatural way, it sets her up for a lifetime of mental anguish. Will Amane find her place in normative society? Will she have a child the “right” way? As usual Murata takes us on …

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Othersode #108: Negative Chills / The Great Gatsby (2013) with Janet Dale and Allison Renner 1:46:59

2M ago1:46:59

1:46:59

Hello, old sports! Join us and our young and beautiful guests, Janet Dale and Allison Renner, as we revisit Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby (2013). Then we chat with Janet and Allison about their new collaborative chapbook, Green Light: A Gatsby Cycle. Read along for our next Bookpisode about Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata on August 5th. Then wat…

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BSG #108: Shocking and Revolting / El Dorado Drive 1:13:11

2M ago1:13:11

1:13:11

Hey, hun! It’s your old friends, the Book Squad, with an exciting opportunity for you! We’d love to invite you to join us for our discussion about El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott. We talk about the sisters’ relationships, money troubles, good ol’ fashioned pyramid schemes, and all things shocking and revolting. Drop in for our next Othersode on 7/2…

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Othersode #107: Lily Gladstone Worked At Gay / The Wedding Banquet with Susie Dumond 1:20:56

3M ago1:20:56

1:20:56

A deliciously queer romcommy episode is here! Author Susie Dumond returns to chat with us about the 2025 remake of the film The Wedding Banquet in all of its low-key chaotic glory. Then we interview Susie about her brand new novel, Bed and Breakup (available TODAY, June 24th, wherever you get books!). Drop back in on July 8th for our next Bookpisod…

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BSG #107: Reading: Do You? With Jenna / The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami 1:06:48

3M ago1:06:48

1:06:48

It’s time to read with (?) Jenna again! Join us for a discussion of The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami. We talk about surveillance, the unfortunate parallels to our present moment, the novel’s structure, the characters, and of course, Jenna Bush Hagar and her book club antics. Then we dig into some listener feedback and chat about what’s up next! Watc…

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Othersode #106: Good American Duplass / Good American Family with Mary Kay McBrayer 1:21:44

4M ago1:21:44

1:21:44

Author and pal Mary Kay McBrayer joins us to talk all things Madame Queen, AKA Stephanie St. Claire, mysterious criminal mastermind and numbers genius. Before we jump into discussing Mary Kay’s latest book, Madame Queen: The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair, we discuss Hulu's Good American Family, another tale …

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BSG #106: Don't Trust the Government / When the Wolf Comes Home 1:27:54

4M ago1:27:54

1:27:54

None will be spared…when we talk about When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy! Join the Book Squad for a chat about this wild ride of a novel—we talk about the action and pacing, horror subgenres, the characters, mom/dad stuff, and goodness vs. badness. Then we finally read some really old feedback from husband of the pod, Ben (sorry about that, B…

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Othersode #105: The Animal Community / The White Lotus with Todd Osborne 2:00:53

4M ago2:00:53

2:00:53

We’re briefly leaving our luxury villas to talk about season three of The White Lotus! Join us as we chat about the cast, the season’s setting, the characters we loved and hated, and what we can learn about the characters based on their book choices. Then we have a long overdue conversation with Todd Osborne about his debut poetry collection, Gathe…

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BSG #105: For Peat's Sake / The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister 1:16:40

5M ago1:16:40

1:16:40

Get ready to listen to us say “peat” about a hundred times because we’re discussing The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister. We talk about the Haddesley sibling dynamics, the infamous Bog Wife herself, the bog as a character, and of course, generational trauma. Join us and special guest Todd Osborne (husband of the pod) on April 29 for a special one-year ce…

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Othersode #104: Cooch to the Wind / A Scythe & Sparrow Hatepisode 1:19:09

5M ago1:19:09

1:19:09

It’s appropriate this book involves a circus because we about to clown on it. Join the squad for a Hatepisode about Brynn Weaver’s Scythe & Sparrow, the third installment in the Ruinous Love Trilogy. After Mary gives us an overview of the other two books, we get a special review of Butcher & Blackbird by Emily’s dad, Charlie. Then we talk about the…

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BSG #104: All Natalies Grow Up Eventually / Entitlement by Rumaan Alam 1:10:53

6M ago1:10:53

1:10:53

Join us in the depths of the NYC subway system for an accidental hatepisode! We didn’t love Entitlement by Rumaan Alam, but we had a good time talking about billionaires, flat characters, lying to get a cool apartment, and of course, the guy on the subway poking people with a hypodermic needle. Join us on April 1st for an intentional hatepisode abo…

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Othersode #103: We're All Just Structures, Man / The Monkey with Samantha Allen 1:15:52

6M ago1:15:52

1:15:52

It’s safe to listen, but whatever you do, don’t wind that monkey! Join us and special guest Samantha Allen, author of Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet, for a fun chat about The Monkey film, based on the short story by our man Stephen King. After discussing cursed toys of our own childhoods, we talk about the horror-comedy genre and how it relates to gr…

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BSG #103: Incidents Around the Tri-County Area / Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman 1:27:50

7M ago1:27:50

1:27:50

Who’s that talking to you through your AirPods? Is it the Book Squad, or is it Other Mommy? Join us as we discuss Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman. We talk about the novel’s POV and try to figure out what Other Mommy actually is. Plus, Mary gives us a children’s lit lesson! Go see The Monkey and tune in for our next Othersode on March 4t…

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Othersode #102: Clady McHendrix / The Craft with Grady Hendrix and Clay Mcleod Chapman 1:59:37

7M ago1:59:37

1:59:37

Returning guests and two of our favorite authors, Grady Hendrix and Clay McLeod Chapman, join us to talk about The Craft. We talk about our experience with the film and try to dissect what it’s really saying about witches. Then we have a spoiler-free chat with Grady and Clay about their newest books, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls and Wake Up and Ope…

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BSG #102: I Like Diven / One of Our Kind 1:34:04

8M ago1:34:04

1:34:04

Come with us to a utopian (?) community as we discuss One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon. We talk about the responses to the book from POC readers (our standard disclaimer: we are white ladies), the book’s ending, class and characters, and comparisons to similar stories. Tune in on February 4 for a special Othersode on The Craft, featuring guests Grady…

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Othersode #101: A Group of Haters is Called a Podcast / Best of 2024 1:35:26

8M ago1:35:26

1:35:26

Happy New Year! We’re celebrating by talking about all of our favorite things from 2024. This is the fun kind of retrospective where we just talk about the good things and leave out all the bad! Plus, you’ll get to hear from many of this year’s podcast guests about their favorite things from the past year! Tune in on 1/21 for our next Bookpisode on…

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BSG #101: Is it Cobbler or Pie? / Model Home 1:28:03

9M ago1:28:03

1:28:03

Our gift to you on this very special Christmas and Hanukkah twofer is our final episode of the year: a discussion of Rivers Solomon’s latest novel, Model Home. Join us for a truly haunting discussion about family dynamics, gender exploration, and the difference between cobbler and pie. In the new year, we’ll be releasing our annual ‘faves’ episode …

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Othersode #100: Past-Peak Hugh Grant / Music & Lyrics with Samantha Allen 2:01:49

9M ago2:01:49

2:01:49

POP! goes our 200th episode! Join the Book Squad (plus Ben) and special guest Samantha Allen, author of Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet, to talk about the 2007 Hugh Grant/Drew Barrymore romcom Music & Lyrics. We discuss our personal connections to the film, the romance, the music, and what might not hold up in 2024. Then we interview Samanatha about h…

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BSG #100: Whale Tail Dystopia / Hum 1:38:46

10M ago1:38:46

1:38:46

We’re off to the sad botanical garden for our ONE HUNDREDTH (!) Bookpisode about Hum by Helen Phillips. We talk about climate change, artificial intelligence, human connection (or lack thereof) and, of course, the ultimate villain: capitalism! Then we get into some special 100th episode feedback and give a quick blog update. Our next Othersode will…

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Othersode #99: Weird Little Guy (Derogatory) / Bride and Prejudice with Tirzah Price 1:41:56

10M ago1:41:56

1:41:56

Book Squad meets Bollywood as we discuss Bride & Prejudice (2004) with special guest Tirzah Price! We talk about how this Austen adaptation works in a Bollywood setting, racism and xenophobia, surprise appearances from western actors, and (obviously) the musical numbers. Then we chat with Tirzah about her new novel (out now!), In Want of a Suspect.…

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BSG #99: Alternate Universe She’s All That / The Familiar 1:14:14

11M ago1:14:14

1:14:14

If you start with the basic knowledge that Spanish Inquisition = Bad, you’ll be just fine. This week the Book Squad discusses Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar. We talk about the historical piece of this historical fantasy, question where the vampires are, play “hot or not,” and dig into the romance. Then we read some great listener feedback (Alex’s Ver…

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Othersode #98: As Sexy As Cholera / The Silence of the Lambs with J. H. Markert 1:49:02

11M ago1:49:02

1:49:02

Goodbye, Eyeball Fall; hello, Cannibal-tober!(?) We’ll workshop it. Special guest J.H. Markert (aka James Markert) joins the Squad to revisit 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs and talk about his latest novel, Sleep Tight! We talk about why Hannibal is so iconic (“the late, great Hannibal Lecter,” anyone?), the interplay between trauma and horror, get…

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BSG #98: Schemer and Dreamer / The Eyes Are the Best Part 1:13:38

11M ago1:13:38

1:13:38

If you could eat any body part, what would it be? Join Emily, Kelli, and Susan as they discuss the delicious body horror of The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim. Between the gross out horror scenes, this novel discusses misogyny, sexuality, and what happens when, well, you’re just kind of a jerk. Join us next time as special guest James Markert…

BookSquadGoals Podcasts

4
Book Squad Goals

#BookSquadGoals

1
BSG #110: Clear Lesbian Tendencies / The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica 1:18:08

1
Othersode #109: Another Thing / The Thing with Paul Tremblay 1:42:18

1
BSG #109: Everyone is Mother (Slay) / Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata 1:27:34

1
Othersode #108: Negative Chills / The Great Gatsby (2013) with Janet Dale and Allison Renner 1:46:59

1
BSG #108: Shocking and Revolting / El Dorado Drive 1:13:11

1
Othersode #107: Lily Gladstone Worked At Gay / The Wedding Banquet with Susie Dumond 1:20:56

1
BSG #107: Reading: Do You? With Jenna / The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami 1:06:48

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Othersode #106: Good American Duplass / Good American Family with Mary Kay McBrayer 1:21:44

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BSG #106: Don't Trust the Government / When the Wolf Comes Home 1:27:54

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Othersode #105: The Animal Community / The White Lotus with Todd Osborne 2:00:53

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BSG #105: For Peat's Sake / The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister 1:16:40

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Othersode #104: Cooch to the Wind / A Scythe & Sparrow Hatepisode 1:19:09

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BSG #104: All Natalies Grow Up Eventually / Entitlement by Rumaan Alam 1:10:53

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Othersode #103: We're All Just Structures, Man / The Monkey with Samantha Allen 1:15:52

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BSG #103: Incidents Around the Tri-County Area / Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman 1:27:50

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Othersode #102: Clady McHendrix / The Craft with Grady Hendrix and Clay Mcleod Chapman 1:59:37

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BSG #102: I Like Diven / One of Our Kind 1:34:04

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Othersode #101: A Group of Haters is Called a Podcast / Best of 2024 1:35:26

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BSG #101: Is it Cobbler or Pie? / Model Home 1:28:03

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Othersode #100: Past-Peak Hugh Grant / Music & Lyrics with Samantha Allen 2:01:49

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BSG #100: Whale Tail Dystopia / Hum 1:38:46

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Othersode #99: Weird Little Guy (Derogatory) / Bride and Prejudice with Tirzah Price 1:41:56

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BSG #99: Alternate Universe She’s All That / The Familiar 1:14:14

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Othersode #98: As Sexy As Cholera / The Silence of the Lambs with J. H. Markert 1:49:02

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BSG #98: Schemer and Dreamer / The Eyes Are the Best Part 1:13:38