125: Persia, Poetry and Politics in "Martyr!"
"Martyr!" is an interesting collision of poetry and political identity that produces a unique narrative that also encompasses addiction and grief. What makes a "good death" is the central topic explored. And it's not everyone's cup of chai.
56m Mar 31, 2025
56m
124: Anticipating Outer Space on the Silver Screen with "Project Hail Mary"
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 characters of all time. Is it worth it for those who aren't fans of sci-fi?
59m Mar 17, 2025
59m
123: "Year of Wonders" and the Black Plague
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 village in England, this one tackles so many important and interesting themes.
59m Mar 10, 2025
59m
122: Politics and Pure Fantasy Fun in "Spark of the Everflame"
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 hosts have already read on in this fantasy series with a fresh world and magic system.
49m Mar 03, 2025
49m
121: Onyx Storm: Unhinged
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 talk about what might come next in the series based off questions we still have, and we break down TikTok's finest fan theories. And we have receipts.
59m Feb 24, 2025
59m
120: "Onyx Storm:" The Monster TikTok Made
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 ever achieve what its fans hope for?
57m Feb 17, 2025
57m
119: A Not So Short "Intermezzo"
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 about loss and love this way? Or is it just too much work?
1hr 1m Feb 03, 2025
1hr 1m
118: Patriarchy and Class Conflict in “The God of the Woods”
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 setting and complicated timeline combine for an interesting tale.
59m Jan 27, 2025
59m
117: TikTok Made Us Do It: "Ice Planet Barbarians"
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 bizarre series. Can the Busy Girls get behind one this weird?
49m Jan 20, 2025
49m
116: The Biggest Busy Girls Debate Yet? Discussing "When the Moon Hatched"
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 Moon Hatched." Is fantasy's latest dragon darling worth the read?
1hr 5m Jan 13, 2025
1hr 5m
115: Busy Girls Book Club Awards 2024
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 Book of the Year.
59m Jan 06, 2025
59m
114: "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" is not Relaxing
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 to answer.
57m Dec 30, 2024
57m
113: FanFic-esque Romance in "Red, White & Royal Blue"
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 out the unbelievable love story between a First Son and a royal heir?
58m Dec 22, 2024
58m
112: The Refreshingly Mysterious World of "The Fifth Season"
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 down. Listen to why.
1hr 3m Dec 16, 2024
1hr 3m
111: "Chain-Gang All-Stars" and the U.S. Carceral System
"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 the death on public television. There's a lot to be learned in this one.
59m Dec 09, 2024
59m
110: "The Games Gods Play" With Social Media Trends
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 table?
1hr 5m Dec 02, 2024
1hr 5m
109: Award Winning "James"
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 joined by their friend Katelyn, who has joined the podcast previously.
1hr 20m Nov 25, 2024
1hr 20m
108: Voices of Vietnam in "The Women"
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 we never knew to ask about the Vietnam War experience.
1hr 7m Nov 18, 2024
1hr 7m
107: Millennial Romance in "Seven Days in June"
The Busy Girls Book Club hosts tackle Tia William's millennial-coded romance, "Seven Days in June." Serious themes - like addiction and disability representation - pair with the hilarity of an author writing vampire smut and her middle school-aged therapist of a daughter to create a heartwarming love story.
47m Nov 11, 2024
47m
106: "What The River Knows" About YA Historical Magical Realism
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 actually be YA or should it be adult? Is the premise enough to overlook the lacking magic?
53m Nov 04, 2024
53m
105: Serial Killers and Spice in "Butcher and Blackbird"
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 star out of a notoriously stingy host?
54m Oct 28, 2024
54m
104: A Not So Spooky "The Spellshop"
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.
50m Oct 21, 2024
50m
103: More Paranormal Historical Fiction? A Look at "Vampires of El Norte"
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 niche spot and provides quite the interesting tale.
51m Oct 14, 2024
51m
102: A Muddled Murder Mystery in "The Maid"
"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, which makes being part of a murder plot really tricky. The Busy Girls discuss whether her unique character is enough to save the story.
44m Oct 07, 2024
44m
Busy Girls Bonus: October 2024 News
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.
7m Oct 04, 2024
7m
101: Two Years of Busy Girls Book Club
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 hobby turned community. Listen for trivia, games, answers to some solid questions and of course our now annual book bracket.
1hr 10m Aug 12, 2024
1hr 10m
100: Busy Girls "Book Lovers" Celebrate 100 Episodes
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 Books of the 21st Century to celebrate episode 100. We also discuss Emily Henry's "Book Lovers" since the title seems appropriate for the occasion. NYT 100: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/best-books-21st-century.html Readers' 100: http...
59m Aug 05, 2024
59m
99: Niche History in "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store"
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, and one of the hosts didn't even get the book finished. But did the other two think the time spent was worth the effort?
59m Jul 29, 2024
59m
98: Ready to Face "The Future"?
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"? This speculative fiction/sci-fi look at what our world is becoming gives the Busy Girls a lot to talk about.
1hr 15m Jul 22, 2024
1hr 15m
97: Rewind, Repeat in "Tower of Dawn"
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 previous book but from a different POV and setting. Does it deserve all the hate it gets?
53m Jul 15, 2024
53m
96: One Dark Fairytale in "One Dark Window"
"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 a fairytale world. Do the Busy Girls all agree for once?
48m Jul 08, 2024
48m
95: Emily Henry's "Funny Story" and the Summer Rom Com
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 up to the desires of the ravenous fan base?
58m Jul 01, 2024
58m
94: Heartache and "The Song of Achilles"
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 know how this one ends. Is it still worth the read?
53m Jun 24, 2024
53m
93: Satire and Tropes Abound in "Assistant to the Villain"
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 fantasy and romance tropes but somehow ends up still being sweet. Even Casey didn't hate it. (Though, she didn't really like it either...)
47m Jun 17, 2024
47m
92: A Pulitzer-level Look at Appalachia in "Demon Copperhead"
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 opioid crisis in 90s Appalachia is so well-written and moving. Though, it may not be the book for busy readers.
1hr 27m Jun 10, 2024
1hr 27m
91: The Modern Fantasy Formula in "A Fate Inked in Blood"
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: Did it deliver, or did it just rewrite what is trendy currently in fantasy?
57m Jun 03, 2024
57m
90: An Interview with "More Than Life" Author Bethanie Finger
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 great discussion about grief, magic and of course Taylor Swift.
57m May 27, 2024
57m
89: Is "The Will of the Many" Worth your Will to Read?
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 dark academia. So is it worth the effort?
1hr 3m May 20, 2024
1hr 3m
88: Two Authors and a Story of Love Across Time
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 readers on a unique and unexpected adventures. It leaves a lot to discuss.
51m May 13, 2024
51m
87: Kuang's Departure from Fantasty in "Yellowface"
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 mean it's a hit?
1hr 3m May 06, 2024
1hr 3m
86: Here Comes "Bride"
Fans of Ali Hazelwood's normal STEM romances will knot expect what's coming in her newest release. (Misspelling intentional.) The Busy Girls are unsurprisingly divided on Hazelwood per usual, but they do all agree on one thing about "Bride."
51m Apr 29, 2024
51m
85: Plotlines Converge in "Empire of Storms"
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 for a greater purpose.
1hr 11m Apr 22, 2024
1hr 11m
84: A Memoir About Dead Bodies Could Change the World with "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"
"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 world history to turn the funeral industry upside down. It may be the most though provoking discussion the Busy Girls have ever had.
1hr 12m Apr 15, 2024
1hr 12m
83: Something Completely New in Fantasy in "Immortal Longings"
Trial to the death? Body jumping magic system? Setting as a character? Morally grey leads? "Immortal Longings" by Chloe Gong is something totally new and fresh on the fantasy scene, but not everyone is a fan. The Busy Girls discuss what was a success and what still needs clarification.
1hr 10m Apr 08, 2024
1hr 10m
82: Memoir Meets Poetry "In the Dream House"
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 realizing she's being abused and overcoming her situation. The Busy Girls talk about this interesting take on a memoir and why it's a must read.
1hr 3m Apr 01, 2024
1hr 3m
81: Middle Eastern Meets Fantasy in "The Jasad Heir"
"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 kingdom politics. Plus, it's a grumpy-grumpy main character mashup.
59m Mar 25, 2024
59m
80: Life Meets Art in "Open Water"
"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 short. Does it make it worth the read?
57m Mar 18, 2024
57m
79: The Trouble with Celebrity Memoirs and Prince Harry's "Spare"
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" gives the Busy Girls a lot to discuss.
1hr 16m Mar 11, 2024
1hr 16m
78: An Interview with Lauren Puckett-Pope of "ELLE"
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 and her watchlist for 2024. Books summary: https://www.busygirlspod.com/post/special-guest-elle-staff-culture-writer-lauren-puckett-pope-makes-her-book-recommendations-for-2024 Lauren's bio: https://www.elle.com/author/223910/lauren-puckett/ 2024 F...
1hr 12m Mar 04, 2024
1hr 12m
77: SJM Stans Flummoxed after "House of Flame and Shadow"
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 this her finest work? Listen and find out.
1hr 25m Feb 26, 2024
1hr 25m