Book Squad Goals

This week the Squad goes to sunny Florida (NOT Australia) to discuss the Peacock series Apples Never Fall, based on the novel by Liane Moriarty. We talk about the differences between the book and the series, the family dynamics, the acting (including the tennis acting), and other Liane Moriarty adaptations we’ve seen. Then we get into some feedback on Irish Wish because we have to talk about Irish Wish at least once per episode. Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi on 5/14. Then join us and very special guest Paul Tremblay for a chat about The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Paul’s new novel, Horror Movie, on 5/28! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review wherever you listen (but especially Apple Podcasts) and please consider becoming a patron for just $3 a month! TOC: 30– Welcome! And icebreaker 10:15–Show intro 11:30–Differences between the book and the show 33:50–The Delaney Family 48:13– Let’s talk about Savannah. 52:40–Other characters, who’d you identify with? 54:20–Susan’s Tennis Corner 59:19– Liane Moriarty Thoughts 1:07:15– Listener Feedback! 1:11:05– What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Get transported to the other side of the world with the squad (minus Mary) as we discuss The Sun Sets in Singapore, the debut novel by Kehinde Fadipe! We discuss the main characters’ struggles and story arcs, the women’s friendships, the ~drama~, and the setting. Then we get into some listener feedback and catch up with what’s on the Book Squad Blog! Steal your friend’s Peacock login info to watch Apples Never Fall for our next Othersode on 4/30. Then read along with us for our next Bookpisode on The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi on 5/14. Send your feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com and don’t forget to leave us a rating and review! TOC :30 – welcome! 8:25 – book intro 13:20 – which story were you most interested in? 20:45 – friendship! 29:18 – the Jenna bush of it all 49:38 – ratings 56:04 – listener feedback! 1:00:16 – what’s on the blog? What’s up next?

You probably didn’t think we were going to cover the new Lindsay Lohan Netflix film Irish Wish…but what if we did?? Come along to the Emerald Isle with the squad and special guest Nathan Simmons, co-host of Oh! That’s a Scary Movie podcast, as we discuss the nature of wishes, what it means to “be” Irish, couture fashion, and the James Joyce of it all. Plus, enjoy a very special tangent on the screenwriter and her many, many favorite things. Read along for our next Bookpisode about The Sun Sets in Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe on 4/16, and check out the Peacock series Apples Never Fall (based on the Liane Moriarty novel) for our next Othersode on 4/23. PS: We would loooove a five-star rating if the spirit of St. Brigid moves you! TOC: 0:30 — Welcome, Nathan! And icebreaker 10:50 – Movie intro 13:20 – What’s this movie’s whole deal? 20:02 – The wish 41:28 – Who wrote this?? And more miscellaneous comments 51:53 – What is everyone wearing? 56:32 – Why is this set in Ireland? 59:00 — James Joyce 1:07:03 – Ratings 1:09:54 – Reedback 1:12:00 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next? Links: https://www.vulture.com/article/netflix-irish-wish-is-an-ai-generated-harbinger-of-doom.html

Mirror, mirror, on the wall... oh wait, that was our last book. Join the squad on another journey into the land of fairytales and their tropes as we discuss Thornhedge, the latest novella by T. Kingfisher. Special guest Jen educates us on everything from the Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index to the many crimes of Giambattista Basile, and Susan educates us on The Frog Prince (1986). Make sure to tune in next time, when we'll be joined by Nathan Simmons of the Oh! That's a Scary Movie podcast for a discussion of the latest Lindsay Lohan/Netflix vehicle, Irish Wish (4/2), and read along for our next bookpisode on The Sun Sets In Singapore by Kehinde Fadipe (4/16). Follow us on social media @booksquadgoals, subscribe to our Patreon, leave us a rating and review on the Apple podcasts app, and send LITERALLY any feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com! TOC: :30 – Icebreaker Q, welcome Jen! 5:05 – Book intro 6:50 – Tale types 14:48 – What’s up with Toadling? 24:13 – Other subversive fairy tales? 28:42 – Halim 41:00 – Fayette and the ending of the book 49:00 – Why do we keep retelling tales? 52:44 – Ratings 56:44 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next? Links: https://www.gofundme.com/f/emily-and-ben-beat-cancer

From the hearts…the minds…the dreams…of the Book Squad…comes a special discussion of the Jennifer Lopez film? visual album? This Is Me…Now. It’s hard to describe our chat because it’s hard to describe this project. But some topics we cover include: celebrity zodiac signs, eye-roll moments, which husband is which, and the meaning of a factory. Then we head back to non-green screen land to catch up with what’s on the blog, including YA Book Club and Bachelor recaps! Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher, featuring special guest Jen Roy, on 3/19. Then put on your best green outfit for our next Othersode on Irish Wish, the new Lindsay Lohan movie, on 4/2. Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts – we’ll read it on the next episode! Send listener feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com! TOC :30 – Icebreaker 10:26 – Movie description and expectations 13:08 – Previous J-Lo feelings 22:48 – What is this? 30:25 – The Great Heart Factory Debate 44:56 – Kelli’s tweet corner; where are the kids? 50:00 – What else? The music? 57:50 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty – we’re talking about Rouge by Mona Awad! Special guest Mary Kay McBrayer (author and podcast host) joins us for a deep dive into this surreal world to chat about genre, mother-daughter relationships, the toxic beauty industry, and of course, Tom Cruise himself. Next we catch up with what’s on the blog, including a post about Hazbin Hotel and new Bachelor recaps! Buckle up for our next Othersode on Jennifer Lopez’s movie-thing, This is Me…Now on March 5th. Then read along for our next Bookpisode about Thorn Hedge by T. Kingfisher on March 19th! Please leave us a rating and review on Apple podcasts, and we might read it on the pod! Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/booksquadgoals TOC :30 – Welcome Mary Kay! And childhood crushes 9:11 – The very extra Goodreads summary 14:44 – Genre 21:41 – Mother Daughter relationships 52:57 – The ending 1:08:40 – Tom Cruise 1:23:30 – Cover art corner 1:26:35 – Ratings 1:31:16 – Mary Kay’s new podcast, what’s on the blog? What’s up next? Links: https://www.vogue.com/article/mona-awad-fathers-day-essay https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-greatest-true-crime-s-128412643/

Get in, losers; we’re listening to a podcast the whole way there! Join the Book Squad, aka the Army of Skanks, to discuss the new Mean Girls movie, which IS in fact a musical. We talk about our individual histories with Mean Girls, the music and singing, the performances, and changes that worked and didn’t from the original. Next we catch up with what’s on the blog and Kelli shames listeners (Send feedback! Leave a rating! Write a review! Become a patron!). Read along for our next Bookpisode on Rouge by Mona Awad, featuring special guest Mary Kay McBrayer on 2/20. Then brace yourself for whatever This Is Me…Now is because we’re discussing it on our next Othersode on 3/5. TOC: :30– Welcome! And Icebreaker 9:40– Movie intro and spoiler warning 29:54– What was up with the marketing? 40:45– The cast and the music 1:00:40– Changes the new adaptation made 1:14:10– What’s on the blog? What’s up next? Kelli’s shame corner

Biography, but make it fiction. Join the Book Squad for a discussion of Biography of X by Catherine Lacey. We talk about the novel’s alternative-America backdrop, the depiction of the South, X’s “art, and what is up with the narrator. After that, Kelli interviews author Emily Austin (Interesting Facts About Space, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead) about her latest novel, her writing process, the importance of queer stories, and of course, space! Plus, Emily asks Kelli some questions about designing her beautiful book covers! Then we get into some listener feedback for Looking Glass Sound and catch up with what’s on the blog. Go see the new Mean Girls movie and join us for our next Othersode on 2/6 to hear us talk about it. Then special guest Mary Kay McBrayer will join us for our next Bookpisode on Rouge by Mona Awad on 2/20! Please leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and consider becoming a patron for just $3 a month! TOC :30 – Welcome! And icebreaker 6:29 – Why biography?? And book intro 14:00 – Alternate history 23:39 – And how it relates to the south 35:00 – How X sucks 46:04 – What is up with the narrator? 50:37 – Kelli’s art corner 59:00 – Ratings 1:02:30 – Emily Austin interview! 1:51:10 – Listener Feedback 1:56:26 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next? Links: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/apr/01/catherine-lacey-that-constant-nervous-twitter-energy-repels-me-biography-of-x

It’s the most wonderful time of year – time for our (pretty much) annual “Best of the Year” episode! Join us as we chat about our favorite pop culture from 2023. Plus, hear from some of our 2023 guests on their favorite things of the year. Read along for our next Bookpisode on Biography of X by Catherine Lacey on January 23rd, and go see Mean Girls for our next Othersode on February 6th! Send us your highlights of 2023 via DM or email at thesquad@booksquadgoals.com! Thanks for being with us in 2024! TOC 2:34– Icebreaker 11:22–Round 1 30:24– Round 2 48:22– Round 3 1:07:30– Honorable mentions 1:20:30– Listener feedback! 1:28:00–What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Help! We're trapped inside this podcast and we can't get out! Just kidding, that didn't happen to us. It happened to our friend. Or did it...? This week, the squad attempts to untangle the complexities of Catriona Ward's latest novel, Looking Glass Sound. We spend a good chunk of the podcast nailing down the plot, but we also find time to discuss the merits of stories within stories, watery books, and, obviously, gay stuff. If you feel like you can explain any of this better than we did, please drop us a line at thesquad@booksquadgoals.com, and if you're not all Christmased out, check out Emily's 12 Days of Christmas Movies series on the blog! Stay tuned for our upcoming othersode on our favorite things of 2023 (1/9), and read Biography of X by Catherine Lacey to prep for our next bookpisode (1/23) which will also feature an interview with Emily Austin, author of Interesting Facts About Space. Happy (???) New Year! TOC :30 - Unhinged milk conversation 3:55 - Actual welcome & intro question 9:49 - Dog advice 11:30 - Goodreads summary (featuring a mistake) 14:25 - Remembering what happened in this book 16:55 - Establishing basic plot points 27:26 - When things start to spiral 36:40 - The “present” of the book 47:30 - Witchcraft? 51:02 - Stories within stories - do these work? 56:00 - Catriona Ward’s other books that we’re obsessed with 1:01:08 - Gay stuff! 1:06:30 - The setting and wet books 1:10:50 - Character specifics and humor 1:14:21 - Emily’s ONE critique 1:19:00 - Ratings 1:26:45 - Listener feedback 1:33:10 - What Emily wrote for the blog 1:40:00 - What’s next on the pod

Special guest Jayce Chambless is back to discuss The Only One Left by Riley Sager with the Squad. We talk (complain) about the characters, try to do some Sager math, ponder the 1980s setting, and reveal what moment made us sigh with resignation. Then we review some reviews from Goodreads because we love that unhinged shit. Then we get into what’s on the blog and let ya know what’s up next on the pod! Read along for our next Bookpisode on Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward on 12/26, and drop in for our Best of 2023 episode on 1/9! Please do us a solid and leave us a 5-star rating, write us a review, and/or become a Patron! Toodles, our bookish noodles! TOC :30 — Welcome, Jayce! And intro question 12:20 — Book intro 14:30 — The characters (other yahoos) 34:09 — So many twists. Riley Sager math 54:48 — Why is this set in the 80s? 58:20 — What’s a moment that made you sigh with resignation? 1:11:19 — Review Reviews 1:22:50 — Ratings 1:28:00 — What’s on the blog? What’s up next? Links: https://www.booksquadgoals.com/blog/survive-the-book-mary-and-emily-read-riley-sager

The whole Squad is back together and on a hunt for CAMP of any sort in our discussion of Chuck Tingle’s Camp Damascus. Put a pink bag over your head and join us as we talk about the novel’s plot and pacing, YA vs. adult fiction, religious trauma, autism, and of course, CAMP. Then we catch up with what’s on the (still alive, we swear) Book Squad Blog. Join us for what will probably be a Hatepisode as we discuss Riley Sager’s The Only One Left with returning guest Jayce on 12/12. Then read along with us for our next Bookpisode on Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward on 12/26! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review, and if you’re feeling extra generous, support us on Patreon at patreon.com/booksquadgoals. TOC: :30– Icebreaker 11:30- Book intro and Tingle Intro 23:16– Where’s the camp? Plotting/Pacing issues 43:00– YA Lit and standards 48:29– Religious trauma: the novel 56:27– Autism in the novel 1:03:10– Ratings 1:10:00–What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

This week, the Squad and special guest Ang Ferraguto (aka Kelli’s gf) discuss Sofia Coppola’s new film, Priscilla, based on the 1985 book Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley. We talk about our own personal connections to Elvis, the Sofia Coppola aesthetic of it all, the problematic nature of Elvis and Priscilla’s relationship, and the ~discourse~ around the movie. Tangential conversation addresses Usher’s Vegas residency. Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle (11/28), and then tune in for our next Othersode about The Only One Left on 12/12. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! TOC :30 – Welcome to Ang Ferraguto and fave style icons 9:52 – Film intro 13:44 – Mary’s intro corner 26:20 – Sofia Coppola 43:00 – The relationship 1:11:35 – The discourse around the film 1:22:50 – Costuming 1:33:35 – Listener feedback 1:35:33 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next? Links: People https://people.com/priscilla-presley-praises-sofia-coppola-priscilla-movie-8387678 Variety: https://variety.com/2023/film/news/lisa-marie-presley-slammed-sofia-coppola-priscilla-script-1235777982/

Listen, we NEVER talk about vampires on this podcast, and we’re not gonna do it today. Just kidding; yes we are. In our discussion of Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas, we also talk about romance, historical fiction, cover design, and the fact that westerns have to have a hot person for anyone on the squad to be interested. Next we get into some listener feedback and catch up with what’s on the blog (yes, we still have that!). On our next Othersode on 11/14, we’ll be talking about Sofia Coppola’s new movie, Priscilla. After that we’ll be reading Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle on our 11/28 Bookpisode. You should read along! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe, and if you’re feeling extra generous, support us on Patreon! TOC :30 – Welcome and icebreaker! 13:30 – Book intro 16:00 – Genre and expectations 22:17 – The romance of it all 33:03 – Vampires 42:25 – Historical fiction 49:50 – Cover design 54:00 – Ratings 58:25 – Listener feedback 1:02:00 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Return guest Clay McLeod Chapman (author of The Remaking, Whisper Down the Lane, and Ghost Eaters) joins the Squad to chat about the depressing 2021 horror(?) film What Josiah Saw. We dig into the film’s narrative structure, characters, and general bleakness and ask the important question: did this movie abuse us? Then we have a two-part (spoiler-free and spoilers-ok) discussion about Clay’s new novel What Kind of Mother. This conversation covers everything from Nicolas Sparks to terrifying pizza. Next we get into some feedback on a blog post (of all things!) and Clay improvises a potential new theme song for the podcast. Read along for our next Bookpisode on Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas on 10/31, and go see Priscilla for our next Othersode on 11/14! Send any and all feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new episode! Not sure what to do next? Write us a review on Apple Podcasts and become at patron at patreon.com/booksquadgoals! TOC :30 – Welcome Clay! And icebreaker 11:30 – Movie intro and spoiler alert 13:25 – Narrative format and effectiveness 31:30 – Why would anyone watch this? 40:39 – The ending and what’s going on 55:00 – Why incest? 1:04:50 – Non-spoiler interview with Clay 1:27:12 – Getting into spoilers with Clay 2:01:18 – Skinamarink Feedback, what’s up next Links https://collider.com/what-josiah-saw-review-robert-patrick-nick-stahl-shudder/

So what if we stole this whole episode from some other podcast and called it our own? Is that a crime?? JK, this whole episode is our (four white ladies’) original take on Yellowface by R. F. Kuang. We talk about the protagonist’s decision-making skills, satire of the publishing industry and Twitter, cancel culture, and the author’s own publishing experiences. Then we get into some listener feedback with excellent questions and catch up with what’s on the blog. Join us and special guest Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother, for a chat about What Josiah Saw (2021) on 10/17. Then read along for our next bookpisode on Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas on 10/31 — oooh, spooky! Support us at patreon.com/booksquadgoals and send feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com! TOC :30—Subscribe to our Patreon! And Icebreaker 10:21—Book intro 12:14—The general concept of Yellowface 27:45—June’s whole deal 39:30—Satire of the publishing industry 56:54—Cancel culture 1:05:33—Similarities to R. F. Kuang’s life 1:25:50—Ratings 1:30:40—Listener feedback! 1:40:30—What’s on the blog? What’s up next? Links https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUdFkRdgPDU https://www.npr.org/2023/05/16/1176508635/author-r-f-kuang-on-unlikable-narrators-and-cultural-appropriation-in-yellowface

Be a podcast vampire and consume this episode about What We Do in the Shadows, featuring special guest Grace Treutel! We talk about the show’s mockumentary style, favorite character arcs, the Guillermo of it all, and even fanfiction. Next we talk to Grace about her short story chapbook, From the Humid Chambers of My Heart. Read along for our next Bookpisode about Yellowface by R.F. Kuang on 10/3. Then join us and special guest Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother, for our next Othersode about What Josiah Saw on 10/17. Send your feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com and consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/booksquadgoals! TOC: :30– welcome! We’ve got a guest and we’re taking a quiz! 15:00– Show intro and the show’s relation to the film 20:00–Documentary format and comedy– how do they work together? 29:45– That characters’ stories this season 42:27–The Guillermo of it all 1:04:48– Grace’s Fanfic corner! 1:07:30– Interview with Grace about From the Humid Chambers of my Heart 1:35:15– What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Be a podcast vampire and consume this episode about What We Do in the Shadows, featuring special guest Grace Treutel! We talk about the show’s mockumentary style, favorite character arcs, the Guillermo of it all, and even fanfiction. Next we talk to Grace about her short story chapbook, From the Humid Chambers of My Heart. Read along for our next Bookpisode about Yellowface by R.F. Kuang on 10/3. Then join us and special guest Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother, for our next Othersode about What Josiah Saw on 10/17. Send your feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com and consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/booksquadgoals! TOC: :30– welcome! We’ve got a guest and we’re taking a quiz! 15:00– Show intro and the show’s relation to the film 20:00–Documentary format and comedy– how do they work together? 29:45– That characters’ stories this season 42:27–The Guillermo of it all 1:04:48– Grace’s Fanfic corner! 1:07:30– Interview with Grace about From the Humid Chambers of my Heart 1:35:15– What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Gidday, Goalies! Join the squad on the sun-drenched Australian coast for a tale of love (?) and loss with Thirst for Salt, the debut novel by Madelaine Lucas. We discuss the writing style, the book’s central relationship, and themes of motherhood. Next we catch up with what might or might not be on the blog and share some news about our Patreon – that’s right, we have a Patreon now! Tune in on 9/19 for our next Othersode about What We Do in the Shadows with special guest Grace Treutel. Then read along with us for our next Bookpisode about Yellowface by R.F. Kuang on 10/3. Send your feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com and become a patron at pateon.com/booksquadgoals! TOC :30 – Welcome! 12:28 – Book intro 14:38 – Why is the narrative structure like that 25:00 – The writing 31:59 – The relationship 44:49 – Mom stuff 59:34 – Ratings 1:04:07 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

HI BARBIE! It’s girls’ night, plus one Ken (special guest Nathan Simmons)! Join the squad for our discussion of the already iconic Barbie movie. We talk about the film’s brilliant marketing, Barbie’s particular brand of feminism, the excellent cast, motherhood and daughterhood, and of course, the weird conservative backlash. Read along for our next Bookpisode on Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas on 9/5. Then join us and special guest Grace Treutel (author of the chapbook From the Humid Chambers of My Heart) for an Othersode about What We Do in the Shadows on 9/19! Send us feedback (PLEASE) to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com! And while you’re at it, leave us a rating and review on Apple podcasts. Thanks, Barbie! Table of Contents: :30– Welcome, Nathan! And icebreaker 8:10– The Barbie Movie intro 13:50– Barbie’s marketing 24:55– Literary influence 41:32–Casting 51:45– response from critics 1:08:00–Motherhood corner 1:18:21– we are Barbie gorls 1:24:40– What’s on the blog? What’s up next? Where to find Nathan: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oh-thats-a-scary-movie/id1578168937 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-silver-linings-playlist/id1328636209 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aipt-comics/id1448147137 https://www.youtube.com/@thefevertherage Variety Barbie Marketing article: https://variety.com/2023/film/box-office/barbie-marketing-campaign-explained-warner-bros-1235677922/