Archive for the ‘MomAdvice Book Club’ Category

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Are Here

Thursday, November 30th, 2023
The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Are Here

Explore the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club books for your best reading year! Join the online club for an immersive reading experience with these twelve selections. 

Friends, I am SO THRILLED to be announcing the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club selections! Cue the confetti!

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Are Here

I’m hosting my first backlist book club year in honor of my 20th year as an online creator, and I would be HONORED to have you join me on this journey.

What is a Backlist Book?

A backlist book refers to titles published over a year ago.

This year’s offerings include backlist books from 1979 up to 2022! Some of these are new favorites, while others are books I have wanted to discuss for years. 

Won’t it be so fun to revisit some of our favorite books over the years?

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Are Here

Why Should You Join This Book Club?

SHORTCUT TO JOIN NOW

First, I would love to meet you! We can hang out every single month!

This blog is run by a real person who genuinely would love nothing more than to share books with you.

Second, the goal of my book club is to sample a wide variety of books that I feel will offer dynamic discussions, give us a new viewpoint on the world (and the people in it), and introduce you to your new favorite author (that you may have never heard of before).

This year’s stack offers a diverse selection of family drama, crime fiction, thriller, dystopian, historical fiction, and horror (just to name a few!). There is something for everyone this year. 

Where Do Book Club Chats Happen?

Hosting this book club for free since 2014 has been a joy. Unfortunately, as a small business owner, I can no longer offer this for free due to my increasing overhead costs.  

Although I don’t have to justify this, hundreds of hours go into every book club year and dollars to edit materials and host each month.

We are doing everything possible to keep the website going through increasingly challenging times in the tech world. 

Funds that are collected cover all hosting services related to running a club of this size and payment for our special guests who will join us to celebrate this momentous occasion. 

Join my Book Gang

We are offering two tier levels for this year on Patreon.

For full details on each month’s benefits, you can view each month’s “Book Club Experience” outlined with each of the books below.

Please note that if you are a current subscriber, you are a Book Club Explorer- NO PRESSURE to do anything else!

Book Gang Patreon

Book Club Explorer

  • Full Access to the Book Club Benefits includes a recorded fireside chat with the author (or book adjacent guest), a monthly Zoom to discuss the book with me, and a music playlist based on the book’s themes.
  • Annual printable Book Club organizer for keeping track of meet-ups, reviews, and notes for our meetings
  • The FULLY BOOKED podcast book review show offering book reviews on the new buzzy books hosted with Larry Hoffer of @getbookedwithlarry
  • The FULLY BOOKED newsletter that includes book adaptation news and what is coming to store shelves each month (25-35 pages) 
  • Spoiler-filled episodes where authors discuss the ending of their books with you after our shows and why they made the choices they did
  • Printable Sumer Reading Guide & Fall Reading Guide
top secret file

Literary Conversationalist

  • All Book Club Explorer benefits
  • TOP SECRET FILES- A two-page secret mission to take with each book club book created and collaborated with each guest. This file will offer immersive experiences beyond the books, like book pairings, movies, and insider scoops to share at your next dinner party.  The file shown here is just the top page. I told you that it’s top secret- haha!

Fireside chats are recorded in high-definition video AND audio format so you can access whichever format is best for your reading month.

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Are Here

We are lucky to be joined by the authors of these books, authors discussing parallel themes between their books, and incredible people with real-life experiences on these book’s themes.

Even if you have read these books before, you will love our fresh take on these themes and the unique experiences offered.

Listen to Today’s Announcement on the Book Gang Podcast

You can listen to today’s Book Gang episode below to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on what I’m offering for your stack this year. 

If you are planning to join in on the fun, these episodes are essential to understand how our club works and why I have chosen these books, in particular, for you.

Listen to Part 1:

Listen to Part 2:

Now meet our 2024 book club line-up!

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Are Here

2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books

Discover the MomAdvice Book Club selections, curated in honor of my 20th year as a content creator.

These twelve carefully curated selections of backlist books feature a diverse genre lineup to expand your reading life this year. I hope you'll join me on this literary adventure!

Please support our indie bookshop partner, Fables Books, for an incredible new and used book selection.

TELL ME: What book are YOU most excited to read together this year? Are there any surprises on this year’s list?

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Are Here

The 2023 MomAdvice Book Club Selections Are Announced

Thursday, December 1st, 2022
The Best 2023 Book Club Book Selections Are Announced on MomAdvice.com

Discover the 2023 MomAdvice Book Club Books I have curated for our reading year. These fifteen selections will yield dynamic discussions for any group.

It is finally time to turn this stack around! Today I get to reveal our 2023 book club selections for our best reading year ever.

I have learned so much from leading this club over the years, and this year, I believe, is our best one yet. While we still have a few books with challenging themes, this year’s stack offers more life-affirming and heartwarming stories than any other year.

We have joyful traditions, meaningful coming-of-age stories, found families, and found loves.

We also have some dynamic discussions in store around challenging topics like the disparities in our medical system, reproductive rights, body autonomy, and disability awareness.

As I’ve learned so much through this selection process, I am confident that you will also walk away with a new understanding of the world.

What is the MomAdvice Book Club?

The MomAdvice Book Club is a carefully curated book club year designed with busy budget-minded readers in mind.

Each year I select twelve book club books for discussion, so you can make necessary library hold requests for materials early or to take advantage of our partnered bookshop savings.

Why Should You Join This Book Club?

The goal of my book club is to sample a wide variety of books that I feel will offer dynamic discussions, give us a new viewpoint on the world (and the people in it), and introduce you to your new favorite author (that you may have never heard of before).

This year’s stack includes literary fiction, memoir, historical fiction, contemporary fiction, women’s fiction mystery, and young adult.

Where Do Book Club Chats Happen?

First, request to join the MomAdvice Book Club on Facebook.

The Book Club Chat is held on the last Friday (of the month) at 8 PM EST. All events for the year will be posted by January 1st.

Once you RSVP to an event, Facebook will send you the reminders.

As so many readers have Zoom fatigue, we do a typed chat. I provide the typical book club discussion with questions about the book, but I also supply 5-7 quotable news articles and facts to round out that chat.

Discussion questions are posted throughout the event and you can hop on at any time during the evening (or when you finish that book) to answer the questions at a time that is convenient for you.

All events (starting by January 1st) will be listed under the Events tab of our group. Click to RSVP on any (or all) events.

What New Book Club Features Can I Access in the MomAdvice Patreon?

Joining the Patreon group is just FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH or you can pre-pay for a year for a ten percent savings.. Your membership includes MORE perks than EVER. Most of all, your dollars fund our book club so we can continue to expand your reader perks and help this small business grow.

Without our patrons, this group would not be possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Let’s discuss the new benefits offered for 2023!

The Best 2023 Book Club Book Selections Are Announced on MomAdvice.com

Monthly in-depth video interviews with each of our chosen authors– We have a commitment from 11 authors this years to participate in our EXCLUSIVE Author Interview Series. I spend an hour recording an interview with each of our authors discussing their books from start to finish.

This will GREATLY enhance your connection to each of these books, and they have become a patron favorite. These are posted on the fifteenth of every month, so you have two weeks to watch them before our discussion.

These conversations are recorded in video AND audio format so you can access whichever format works best with your reading month.

Exclusive Book Club Playlists- Each month you receive a curated music playlist around each of our book’s themes.

I take the books chapter-by-chapter to tell their story through music. It has become one of our patron’s most special perks and an excellent way to use my background in music to immerse us further in these selections.

Exclusive Bookstore Coupon Discounts- Our Fables Bookstore partnership will give Patreon members 15% off ALL the book club selections for our year. This can be applied to paperback and hardback selections from our 2023 year.

Take advantage of this discount savings to make your holiday shopping easy AND affordable. You will find the coupon code loaded in your account today.

Three Bonus Selections- This year we will offer three bonus selections (perks listed below) with exclusive interactive live discussions around the book’s themes. I hope to form deeper friendships and a stronger sense of community around these fun reads that beg to be read with a buddy.

The FULLY BOOKED Podcast & Newsletter– Each month we offer a 37-page reading guide with reviews on all the buzziest books, book adaptation news, and what upcoming releases will hit store shelves.

This is co-hosted with my well-read co-host (Larry), who reads hundreds of books and shares his top recommendations.

Print or screenshot the monthly written guide for your library day AND listen to a podcast with our uncensored opinions on the books coming out.

The Best Book Shirts for a Book Club

Don’t Forget to Grab Your Grown-Up “Book-It Pin” Shirts

This cult-classic merchandise is what I call our “Grown-Up Book-It Pin.”

Not only do our readers love it, but our writers love it too.

These buttery soft shirts, durable totes, and generously shaped coffee mugs are bought over and over again by repeat customers.

Sizing is true to size and these do not shrink. We stand behind the quality of our supplier and the durability of these designs.

These fundraiser shirts help offset the numerous expenses of running a book club of this size. All funds raised will go towards our administrative expenses, software, and equipment.

Products Available This Year:

Coffee Mug With All Fifteen Books

Coffee Mug With The Classic Dozen Books

Library Tote With Fifteen Books

Library Tote With The Classic Dozen Books

Book Shirts (All Styles Available) With Fifteen Books

Book Shirts (All Styles Available) With Twelve Books

Shop the whole rest of the collection HERE

Listen to Today’s Announcement on the Book Gang Podcast

You can listen to today’s Book Gang episode below to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on what I’m offering for your stack this year. If you are planning to join in on the fun, this episode is essential to understand how our club works and why I have chosen these books, in particular, for you.

Thank you to my dear friend AND excellent host, Meagan Francis. Be sure to check out The Mother of Reinvention, a beautifully cultivated community and podcast for women in a new season of rediscovery.

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast Below or Stream Wherever You Get Your Shows:

The 2023 MomAdvice Book Club Books

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Check out our past book club books:

Check out our 2022 selections

2021 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

Check out our 2021 Selections

Join in on the MomAdvice Book Club HERE! Looking for book ideas? Check out our entire Book section of the site!

You can also sign up for the MomAdvice Daily Book Deals Newsletter with the latest book news!

The Best 2023 Book Club Book Selections Are Announced

Amazon First Reads: The Prime Reading Perk I Love For My Reading Life

Saturday, July 2nd, 2022
Amazon First Reads: The Prime Reading Perk I Love For My Reading Life

Prime members shouldn’t miss access to this FREE Amazon First Reads program. Learn about this Kindle reading program and how this Prime perk works! 

Do you love to read advanced readers of books? You may not know that Amazon offers a sneak peek at early release books, and it is included with your current Prime membership. 

Today I want to explain this benefit and how to get your free books every month. So scroll down for instructions. I also have a new landing page to the books and this month’s offering of the best books. (updated monthly)!

Amazon First Reads: The Prime Reading Perk I Love For My Reading Life

The Amazon First Reads program is a free Kindle reading program that grants Prime members early access to editors’ picks. 

Each month Amazon releases a list of books that members can choose a free early release copy (or sometimes two). This program was formerly known as the Kindle First program. 

These free Kindle books are released a month before their release date, giving you a first look and the opportunity to build buzz on their official selections. 

This deal doesn’t extend just to their digital version. Amazon also offers select print hardback editions for $9.99 or less in participating months. 

Amazon First Reads: The Prime Reading Perk I Love For My Reading Life

Can I Still Get This Deal If I’m Not a Prime Member?

You can still access Amazon First Reads for $1.99 per month if you’re not an Amazon Prime member. 

As a bonus, Kindle Unlimited members can read most of the previous First Reads picks for free. A Kindle Unlimited membership is NOT REQUIRED to have access to this freebie. 

What Types of Books Are Offered? 

Selections for Prime First Reads touch on each genre- mystery, historical fiction, psychological thriller, women’s fiction, short story, true crime, book club fiction, memoir, literary fiction, suspense, and children’s books. 

How Are Books Selected?

On the Book Gang podcast, I had the opportunity to speak with Kathleen Carter in our “A Day in the Life of a Book Publicist” episode, whose selections often appear in the program. I had to imagine that this gives an author a great kickstart, especially if they are a debut novelist.

You can listen to this episode here:

I asked if she could tell us a little about the selection process for the Kindle First Reads program and if she had any hand in selecting the authors she’d been representing.

It’s a great question. But, unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for how they choose them. It’s something that they do internally and not something that I have the scoop on, but sometimes the decision has been made before I’ve been brought onto a campaign.

It’s exciting to see, especially when it’s an author who isn’t as well-known; maybe it’s their debut. It’s so cool to see all the reviews come in, especially when they’re positive and, you know, see thousands of reviews for a debut writer and their book. It’s just like so gratifying. It’s a very cool promotion, but it’s not something that I’m responsible for in any way. I’m fortunate to work on several books that are part of that program.

I replied, “It’s kind of like Book of the Month then? Nobody really knows how it happens. And then when it happens, it’s like magic for the author.”

Kathleen shared, “Exactly.”

This support often turns into bestsellers on Amazon.

If I can find more trade secrets in the selection, I’ll share them with you. If you are curious about topics like this, subscribe to my podcast.  

What Does the Program Cost? 

This program is included with your Prime membership. Therefore, there are no additional costs to participate.

If you’re not an Amazon Prime member, this link should give you a free 30-day trial! The company offers free 1-day delivery on most items. You can also access their entertainment options- tv, movies, and books. 

Can I Read These If I Don’t Own a Kindle? 

You can read these Kindle books by downloading the free Kindle reading app, or you can read them on your Kindle device (Paperwhite, Oasis, or Fire) 

Where Can I Find the List of Current Selections? 

I have added a monthly post; you can find the books listed here. You can also find it in my Kindle Daily Deals List or subscribe to our newsletter.

READ BETTER THIS YEAR WITH THESE ARTICLES

How to Use Scribd for Your Reading Life from MomAdvice.com
the best app for audiobooks is scribd- read my tutorial on this reading option
How to Use Storygraph For a Better Reading Life
how to use the storygraph app for a better reading life
how to check out library books on your kindle for free

Do you have any questions about how to access these benefits? Please leave them here!

2022 MomAdvice Book Club Tracker Bookmark (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022

The 2022 MomAdvice Book Club year is in FULL EFFECT!

We celebrated our book club kickoff with our January Book Club Chat on The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano. It was such a thoughtful and thought-provoking discussion on one woman’s choice to be child-free and the way that her lives played out as she explored 9 scenarios where she makes family-planning decisions. If you missed this month, you can still read and interact with last week’s event over here. (reminder: you must be part of the book club group to view these).

I’ve created the cutest little bookmark tracker to track your reading year with me. I wanted to create an interactive bookmark you can color as you progress through our chats.

On the opposite side of the bookmark, you will find the titles and a color suggestion for each of the books. No need to follow my color cues- please make it your own.

NOTES ON PRINTING: Make sure you print the actual size and select to print on both sides. 

Thank you so much for participating in our book club chats and I hope this freebie adds another immersive element to your book club experience! 

Things you might be looking for!

SEE OUR 2022 BOOK CLUB LIST

RSVP FOR OUR FEBRUARY BOOK CLUB EVENT (IN THE WILD LIGHT)

GRAB YOUR 2022 BOOK CLUB SHIRT, MUG, OR TOTE

JOIN THE BOOK GANG FOR AUTHOR CHATS, BOOK CLUB PLAYLISTS, & OUR BONUS FULLY BOOKED PODCAST ON NEW RELEASE BOOKS

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PRINTABLE BOOKMARK

2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

Wednesday, December 1st, 2021

2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

Have you been looking for an online book club to join? Check out the 2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections and join our book club today! Learn more about how you can join our virtual book chat for these next 12 selections and our exclusive bonus offers this year for our community 

Do you want to have the best reading year ever?

If one of your goals for 2022 is to join a book club or read more, I’d love to introduce you to the MomAdvice Book Club today. Our virtual group has now grown to over 4,500 bookworms and is (truly) one of the kindest and coziest communities on the internet. 

Each year, there is so much love that goes into each of our selections. Not only do I hope to introduce you to a few under-the-radar reads, but I also love to cast a wide net of genres to hopefully expand your reading life in big and beautiful ways.

2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

This year has been a big year of new endeavors and one of my biggest new endeavors has been launching the MomAdvice Book Gang Podcast. This ended up being the perfect format to share with you what our book club is all about and a little bit about each of these books I’ve selected for you.

You can listen to today’s episode below to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on what I’m offering for your stack this year. If you are planning to join in on the fun, this episode is essential to understand how our club works and why I have chosen these books, in particular, for you.

The other two endeavors that I’m proud to launch are just for our new book club year. 

2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

This year we have a partnership with my local bookstore to allow our readers to shop an independent bookshop for your reading this year. Fables Books, located in Goshen, Indiana. We are linking to their shop below with our book club picks. If you join my Patreon, they will give you a 15% discount on our book club books through our exclusive partnership.  (Note: Patreon members, please check your inbox for this exclusive coupon code)

THANK YOU, FABLES!! We love, love, love you! 

a sneak peek at my interview with Allie Larkin- look at that video quality, folks!

If you want to really immerse yourself in this year’s picks, your Patreon support will also give you access to our MomAdvice Book Club Author Interview Series to learn more about the stories behind the stories.  These video interviews are another brand new endeavor that I’m proud to share. I’m so thankful for these writers and how generously they are sharing their lives with us.

Let’s quickly run through some frequently asked questions (for those that don’t have time for the podcast today!):

MomAdvice Free Online Book Club

How Do I Join the MomAdvice Book Club?

Request to join HERE for our free community.

When Do Book Club Chats Happen?

The Book Club Chat is held on the last Friday (of the month) at 8 PM EST. An event invite is sent out to members at the beginning of each month.

Once you RSVP to an event, Facebook does its thing and sends out reminders to you.

This year’s discussion will be a typed chat. 

Discussion questions are posted throughout the event and you can hop on at any time during the evening (or when you finish that book) to answer the questions at a time that is convenient for you.

What New Book Club Features Can I Access in the MomAdvice Patreon?

Membership to access ALL of our online book club features is just $5 a month (or prepay for an annual membership for a ten percent savings). These bonus features allow you to immerse yourself fully in this year’s book club year.

Your membership offers these curated benefits:

Monthly in-depth video interviews with each of our chosen authors. Learn the stories behind each of their stories and what they hope you will walk away from each of their books.

Exclusive Bookstore Coupon Discounts. Our Fables Bookstore partnership will give Patreon members 15% off ALL the book club selections for our year. This can be applied to both paperback and hardback selections. 

Exclusive MomAdvice Book Gang Podcast Episodes & Early Access Book Reviews. Your stack will be toppling over with my real-time reviews each month. These reviews are available in both audio and printable formats. Sneak peek 

Monthly Themed Playlists & Digital Downloads. Pair your favorite thriller with my spooky playlist. Brew some tea and listen to an instrumental mix with your favorite classic. Embrace short story songs with my favorite storytellers. The playlists are endless and digital downloads are available for your reading journals.

Sneak Peek Upcoming Content. You will know before anyone else what to expect in upcoming podcast episodes and what I’m researching for our next shows. Be bookishly curious with me and give your input for these MomAdvice Book Gang podcast shows.

Head HERE to join the Book Gang today and gain immediate access to the full digital catalog of materials.

Grab Our Official 2022 MomAdvice Book Club Shirt (or MUG, or TOTE, or MASK!!)

Are you planning to read with us? I have created a brand new book club shirt with our new stack on it.  We are so thankful to Bonfire for their hard work on this adorable design that captures our reading together! 

We have long sleeve, short sleeve, crewneck sweatshirts, and hoodies for this year!  

In addition to these items, we added a few more merchandise items for our book club members. Shop totes, mugs, and face masks this year too! 

Enough waiting! I’m thrilled to share these twelve 2022 book club selections with you today! I can’t wait to hear what you think about this year’s list. 

MomAdvice 2022 Book Club Selections

January- The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas 2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

(order through Fables Books)

2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections February- In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

(order from Fables Books)

2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections March-The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

(order from Fables Books)

2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections April- The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

(order from Fables Books)

May- The Lady’s Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey 2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

(order from Fables Books)

2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections June- The Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers

(order from Fables Books)

July (Reader’s Choice)- Fire Keeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley 2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

(order from Fables Books)

2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections August- The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade

(order from Fables Books)

September- The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden 2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

(order from Fables Books)

October- A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill 2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

(order from Fables Books)

November (Reader’s Choice)- The One Hundred Years of Lenni & Margot 2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

(order from Fables Books)

December- A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers 2022 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

(order from Fables Books)

 

thank you for letting me be your book mom! 

Other Mentions on the Podcast Today! Thank you to my co-host Mary for the phenomenal job talking us through our next year of reading:

MomAdvice Book Club Facebook Group

The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

Paris Architect Book Club Post on MomAdvice.com

MomAdvice Patreon

Fables Books

Book Gang Podcast Episode 9: The Book Shortage Dilemma with Kristin from Fables Books

Patreon App

Pizza Hut Book It Program

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

The Gown by Jennifer Robson

Meagan Francis from The Mom Hour

Meagan Francis The Mother of Reinvention Podcast

New Adult genre

Heft by Liz Moore

The Shape of Water

Mary Carver

Mary Carver on Instagram

Join in on the MomAdvice Book Club HERE! Looking for book ideas? Check out our entire Book section of the site!

Don’t forget to friend me on GoodReads

You can also sign up for the MomAdvice Daily Book Deals Newsletter with the latest book news!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Book Gang Podcast Episode 10: A Reader’s Backlist Book Challenge

Friday, November 5th, 2021

New releases are fun, but what if you dedicated a reading year to backlist books? From Our Bookshelf blogger, Lynn, shares her favorite backlist challenge discoveries. Today’s episode defines what it means to be backlist, how our pandemic shopping changed the backlist marketing budget, and some surprising publishing house acquisitions because of single backlist books.

Book Gang Podcast Episode 10: A Reader’s Backlist Challenge

 

Listen to the Show:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Patreon Community For the Bonus Content

Under-the-Radar Books & Pivoting Back to Passion Interview

Book Clubs for Homeschooling Moms Interview

The Mother of Reinvention Podcast

Backlist to the Future

Why Backlists Matter to Bookstores

We Need to Talk About the Backlist

LynnsKitchenAdventures.com

lynnskitchenadventures on Instagram

FromOurBookshlelf.com

fromourbookshelf on Instagram

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom

No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

Syria’s Secret Library by Mike Thomson

Fire in Beulah by Rilla Askew

 

In this week’s Patreon Bonus Expand the Stack, I’m sharing:

Since we are embracing backlist books, I want to talk with you about the novel that ALMOST ended up the 2020 MomAdvice Reading Retreat selection. Sadly, we never got to meet, but today’s episode inspired me to share why this book impacted me so much and to reach out to the author. I’m also sneak peeking next week’s exciting episode topic and sharing another Costco find that is making my fall. 

For just $5 a month, you get to join me after every episode to Expand the Stack together. This is where we get a bit more personal about those big bookish feelings, dissect what I learned each week, and give you suggestions for books based on our topics. To top it off, our members receive a monthly bookish digital download, a themed Spotify playlist, and a printable newsletter with the latest book news and reviews. I promise to give you way more than a $5 experience for your support. Join the Book Gang

This post contains affiliate links.

Shop the above (Amazon) links or shop through my new MomAdvice Book Gang Bookshop Page!! They pay a 10% commission on every sale and give a matching 10% to independent bookstores.

 

Looking for some backlist book suggestions of your own? Check out these old favorites:

 

The Best Books of 2020 from MomAdvice.com

Best Books of 2020

 

 

The Best Books of 2019 from MomAdvice.com

Best Books of 2019

 

 

Best Books of 2018

 

 

Best Books of 2017

 

Best Books of 2016

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections

Monday, December 28th, 2020

2021 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

Have you been looking for a free book club to join? Check out the 2021 MomAdvice Book Club Selections and join our FREE book club today! Learn more about how you can join our virtual book chat for these next 12 selections! 

So many things have fallen to the wayside while we have been figuring out our rhythm with parenting through a pandemic and navigating a complex year with my health. 

Despite all the challenges, one thing that I have been working hard on is continuing to cultivate our book club community. This year, we have grown by another thousand members, as so many of us work to find new ways to connect through this pandemic. 

If one of your goals this year is to join a book club or read more, I’d love to introduce you to our FREE book club you can join. This is  an AMAZING Virtual Book Club group filled with almost 4,000 (!!!) readers where we all share in a monthly discussion together.

MomAdvice Free Online Book Club

How Does the MomAdvice Facebook Book Club Work?  

Scroll down to see my list of the twelve books that we will be discussing.

The Book Club Chat is held on the last Friday (of the month)  and an Event invite is sent out to members at the beginning of each month.

Once you RSVP to an event, Facebook does its thing and sends out reminders to you.

Discussion questions are posted throughout the event and you are able to hop on at anytime during the day (or when you finish that book) to answer the questions at a time that is convenient for you.

How Much Does it Cost?

Nada.

Well, What Do YOU Get Out Of It?

I want this to be fun and free for you. I post the daily Kindle book deals  and I share our book club picks through something called an affiliate link.

What is an affiliate link? 

Great question!

Basically, this link gives me a few pennies on each of your purchases that help pay for the web hosting on our website.

The web hosting currently costs me approximately $200 monthly and your purchases from this group basically help to offset that cost for our family at no cost to you. This year, I will also have the additional expense of mailing giveaway books and the cost to hire a designer for our crafts.

Thank you for helping me make this book club great with your purchases.

I promise that I try to only share the good stuff and good books.

Patreon Community

What If I Want a Premium Book Club Experience?

COVID has made things very challenging as a small business owner. In light of this circumstance, I have created a Patreon community for our book club members! For JUST $5 a month, I create exclusive bonus content just for you! 

Each month I create a fun playlist, a free digital download, and a big fat MomAdvice Book Gang newsletter that gives you an ad-free place to read the book reviews ten days prior to readers, filled with bonus book news about upcoming releases! 

This month, for example, I am giving you a winter preview of upcoming releases with 19 new reads to check out this month.

I would be so honored for you to join us! So far there are loads of book review journal sheets, bookshelf coloring pages, mobile backgrounds, bookmarks, and so many accompanying playlists to listen to while you print out the fun. 

By joining the community, you help a small business owner- thank you from the bottom of my heart! 

Grab Our Official 2021 MomAdvice Book Club Shirt

Are you planning to read with us? I have created a brand new book club shirt with our new stack on it.  We are so thankful to Bonfire for their hard work on this adorable design that captures our reading together! Get the shirt HERE!! 

We have long sleeve, short sleeve, crewneck sweatshirts, and hoodies for this year!  

Enough waiting! I’m thrilled to share these twelve 2021 book club selections with you today! I can’t wait to hear what you think about this year’s list. (Click Here for A FREE 2021 Digital Download Of Our Books!)

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections January (MomAdvice Pick)- The Prettiest Star

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections February (Reader’s Choice)- The Girl With the Louding Voice

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections March (MomAdvice Pick)- When No One is Watching

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections April (Reader’s Choice)- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections May Reader’s Choice)- The House in the Cerulean Sea

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections June (MomAdvice Pick)- Lights All Night Long

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections July (MomAdvice Pick)- The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections August (Reader’s Choice)- The Book of Lost Names

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections September (Reader’s Choice)- Migrations 

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections October (Reader’s Choice)- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections November (MomAdvice Pick)- Wunderland

MomAdvice 2021 Book Club Selections December (Reader’s Choice)- Anxious People

Join in on the MomAdvice Book Club HERE! Looking for book ideas? Check out our entire Book section of the site!

Don’t forget to friend me on GoodReads

You can also sign up for the MomAdvice Daily Book Deals Newsletter with the latest book news!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

2021 MomAdvice Book Club Selections

 

 

The Grace Year Book Club Questions and Reading Guide

Sunday, February 2nd, 2020

  The Grace Year Bookmark Printable

Are you looking for great book club questions for The Grace Year? Look no further than this FREE reading guide that has everything you need to host a great book chat with a thoughtful discussion. We have linked to all of the materials you need to host a book club of your own! 

It was an incredible honor to host our first book chat of 2020 to discuss, The Grace Year. 

We had our highest attendance and participation and even got a surprise appearance by Kim Liggett who raffled off signed copies of her book to our participants. 

The best part about hosting these online is that you can pick up and join in on the chat whenever it is convenient for you. I also leave all events open so even if you read this book months from now, you can still participate and read the book club questions and responses from our members. 

I also wanted to provide our local readers with a reading guide that they can use that has everything they need to host a Grace Year Book Club.

You can print our free reading guide, free bookmarks for attendees, read our author interview, and learn more about this incredible book with all of the resources I have gathered for you.

A big thank you to all of our attendees and to Kim for her generosity and participation in our discussion.

The Grace Year Book Club Questions and Reading Guide

Download The Grace Year Reading Guide

 

Hosting a Book Club? Check out these other posts for supplemental materials!

The Grace Year Book Club Free Printable Bookmark download our free bookmarks

The Grace Year Book Club Interview With Kim Liggett read my interview with kim liggett about the grace year

January Book Club Pick; The Grace Year by Kim Liggett learn more about the grace year and why it is the perfect 2020 book club selection

MomAdvice 2020 Book Club Selections join our free online book club today

Happy Reading!

The Grace Year Book Club Free Printable Bookmark

The Grace Year Book Club: Interview With Kim Liggett

Friday, January 31st, 2020

The Grace Year Book Club Interview With Kim Liggett

Check out this exclusive interview with Kim Liggett as we discuss, The Grace Year. This YA dystopian thriller is the incredible fast page-turner that every book club needs. Join us for our MomAdvice Book Club as we dig into this thriller that is the perfect blend of The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies, and The Handmaid’s Tale. Read the book before you catch The Grace Year movie!

It has been such a joy to discuss my new favorite dystopian thriller, The Grace Year, with you all.  This year, the MomAdvice Book Club started out with a bang with a record number of you reading and participating in this month’s chat. This fast page-turner was a welcome reprieve from the busy holiday season and I loved hearing how many lost sleep because they had to read, JUST ONE MORE PAGE.

I want to supply book clubs all over with all the materials they need for a fun and interactive book chat together.

This post explains why I think this is a great book for any book club, you can find printable bookmarks to print out for your book club attendees, this interview will be a great supplement to your reading guide, and you will also find great book club questions for discussing this month’s book. 

Kim Liggett Picture

For those of you not familiar with Kim, you are in for a treat. Kim Liggett, originally from the rural midwest, moved to New York City to pursue a career in the arts.

She’s the author of Blood and Salt, Heart of Ash, The Last Harvest (Bram Stoker Award Winner), The Unfortunates, and The Grace Year.

Kim spends her free time studying tarot and scouring Manhattan for rare vials of perfume and the perfect egg white cocktail. 

If you are wondering if Kim is planning to write a sequel, I am thrilled to point you to her GoodReads answer that said The Grace Year sequel (book 2) is on the table

PHEW! 

I don’t want to be done with this one! 

Today it is an honor to share my interview with Kim Liggett. 

The Grace Year Book Club: Interview With Kim Liggett

Thank you so much for joining me in an interview about your phenomenal book. I had the pleasure of listening to your novel on audio book and loved the bonus interview at the end.

In it, you shared that the idea for your book came from an encounter on the train.

Can you share with us why this encounter moved you so much that it brought you tears…and then brought you to the plot of your book?

I still can’t tell that story without bursting into tears!

I think what really gets to me is how much I wanted to spare her of the ugly truth.

Whether she was ready for it or not, her world was about to change.

So much of The Grace Year is about intergenerational silence—the things we never say in the name of protection.

I think there’s an element of denial at play—why plant that rotten seed if there’s a chance it might not happen to them or there might even be a hidden sliver of resentment—they’ll have to learn the hard way, just like I did.

For whatever reason, we’re not talking enough about the issues that girls and women have to deal with. Essentially, we’re sending them into the wilderness unprepared.

I feel like any piece of feminist literature is now compared to, The Handmaid’s Tale.

I’m a big fan of that book, but I don’t always think these comparisons are worthy.

With your book, I really feel like you captured some of that Atwood magic though by building out Garner County and the customs of the Grace Year.

What inspired this dystopian environment and how hard was this element in the creation of your story?

The most difficult task by far was deciding what should be left unsaid.

Because it’s such an immense and fascinating world, the temptation is to fill in all the gaps, leave no stone unturned, but I didn’t want the origin story of the county to overshadow Tierney’s.

I always saw THE GRACE YEAR as the middle of the tale—and there’s rarely any glory in the middle of anything—but Tierney deserved her own book.

For me, the question of ‘how did we get here?’ was a lot less interesting than, ‘we’re here now, so what are we going to do about it?’

This is the county’s 47th grace year.

Tierney has never known a time before it.

All she knows is now.

In order to capture that immediacy I decided to plop the reader right into the center of it all. Sink or swim, so to speak. I

t’s a lot to ask of the reader, it requires a fair amount of trust, and I’m honored every single time someone decides to go along for the ride.

While this story focuses a lot on how women are treated by men in this society, I thought one of the bigger themes was how the girls competed against each other and didn’t band together.

Why was this theme important to your story and how do we encourage our girls to not do the same thing?

We’ve been conditioned to compete with one another—it’s everywhere we look—and the only beneficiary is the patriarchy.

I think the key to lowering our armor, embracing one another, is through compassion and empathy.

Like Tierney, I was always so quick to judge other women, but this book really changed me.

Nowadays, I try to meet women where they are, not where I want them to be. It’s amazing how much my world opened up when I made that tiny shift.

All I had to do was simply soften my gaze.

You started writing at 40 which is just amazing.

At 42, I feel like it is too late to make a career switch so I felt really encouraged reading that.

What do you think you brought to your stories at 40 that you might not have been able to in your 20’s?

Honestly, I was a train wreck at 20.

There’s no way I would’ve had the focus—the stillness—to write a book like this, but the real difference is sheer life experience.

I’ve been the maiden; I’ve been the mother, and now that I’m settling into my crone phase, I feel like I’m finally coming into my full power.

It took me a long time to find my voice, but it’s never too late.

Elizabeth Banks Directing The Grace Year

I understand that your novel will be coming to the big screen, thanks to Universal and Elizabeth Banks (directing & producing).

Just as amazing as that, I read that the film will be made entirely by women. How involved will you be in adapting this book and what was it like to know that so many wanted to purchase the movie rights to your novel?

It’s wild!

When I agreed to sell the rights, I really didn’t expect that much involvement, but they’ve included me every step of the way.

Readers will be happy to hear that they are being extremely faithful to the book.

There will be a bit of condensing, because we can’t make a four hour movie, but the integrity of Tierney’s story will remain intact.

And it’s true—everyone from the executives to the screenwriters are women. I’m extremely proud of that.

They say that writing can be therapeutic and much of this story was born from your own fear and frustrations with where we are at in the world.

Did you feel better after you wrote this and do you see this story as activism for young adults?

This book was so deeply personal for me. I didn’t know if anyone would care or get what I was trying to say, but I had to write it.

It almost felt like a purging.

Having the attention of foreign publishers and the film industry was exciting, but it wasn’t until I started hearing from early readers that it really started to sink in.

I wasn’t alone, and I felt so much hope.

If people take anything from this book, I hope it’s this—we are stronger together.

This might seem like a radical idea, but instead of focusing all of our energy on taking down the patriarchy, what if we threw some of that strength into building each other up?

We would be absolutely unstoppable.

I always like to ask authors, what are the best ways we can support writers and their books?

With so many social media avenues and review spaces, I love to hear what helps your book sales the most?

Pass it on.

The greatest marketing tool of all is word of mouth.

Publishers can’t manufacture it; no one can predict it.

If you love a book, if it makes you think, talk about it. You have more power than you think.

If we loved your book, what else would you recommend we read, that explores similar themes?

The Power by Naomi Alderman, Women Talking by Miriam Toews, Three Women by Lisa Taddeo & My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell.

 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Love this post? Here are a few others you might love!

MomAdvice 2020 Book Club Selections find out how to join our FREE MomAdvice Book Club (and see what we are reading next!)

January Book Club Pick: The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

get the scoop on the grace year and the upcoming movie

The Grace Year Bookmark Printable

download your free printable bookmark

Looking for book ideas? Check out our entire Book section of the site! Don’t forget to friend me on GoodReads

The Grace Year Book Club Interview With Kim Liggett

 

The Grace Year Book Club: Free Printable Bookmark

Friday, January 24th, 2020

The Grace Year Book Club Free Printable Bookmark

Join us for our MomAdvice Book Club as we dig into, The Grace Year by Kim Liggett. Download your free printable bookmark and tie it off with a little red ribbon. This dystopian young adult thriller explores the topic of girls on the edge of womanhood with themes that hit all the right Handmaid’s Tale notes.

The MomAdvice Book Club has started with a bang and the 2020 Book Club announcement yielded over three hundred additional members who have joined the free club.

Our January selection is, “The Grace Year,” by Kim Liggett and I have heard from so many of you how much you have enjoyed this month’s pick. 

For many, I have heard that it has been a long time until a book kept you up until way past your bedtime.  The conversations of exhausted women, who just couldn’t stop flipping those pages, has been just the kind of exhausting story that this bookworm loves hearing about.

The Grace Year Book Club Free Printable Bookmark

Here are some of my favorite comments that were posted in our book club group this month! 

“This book took me back to my early childhood experiences with reading; it took me back to the magic of why I fell in love with books; it completely swept me away, had me staying up to read just one more chapter—just one more chapter; it had me sitting outside of Starbucks flipping page after page, because I just couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. It was an amazing experience, powerful, dark, thought-provoking, and I loved every minute of it! So much ‘meat’ to pull off the bone with this one. I am really looking forward to the January 31st book talk. Thank you for making this the January read.”

“I’m normally in bed by 10, but Oh. My. Goodness. The Grace Year had me up till 3:30! The best book I’ve read since The Nightingale ❤❤. Can’t wait till our discussion!”

“I have read several good and some really good books recently but none that kept me up past bedtime or had me grabbing my Kindle on the way out the door just in case I had any waiting time where I could be reading. Besides that this was a page turner, I loved so many of the messages and things that got me thinking. A real plus when an entertaining story has substance too and isn’t just a fun read for the sake of fun! Thanks, Amy, for this pick!”

“I just finished The Grace Year last night and highly recommend for anyone who loved The Hunger Games!”

“I was up until 2am! Which is not me at all…but I just couldn’t stop reading!”

This is just a snippet of the commentary that was happening around this book. 

Was it everyone’s cup of tea?

Of course not! 

We all have such different tastes in books and that is why I picked so many different genres and books with very different pacing. Some are more character driven, some more plot driven, some slow burns, some fast page-turners…honestly, there is something for everyone this year.

Coming fresh off the holidays, I wanted something that you could devour quickly and that I thought would spur a delicious conversation.

Also in record numbers are the RSVP’s to this month’s book discussion.

137, to be exact, and still counting! 

I am thrilled to see that so many of you have connected with this month’s book and I can’t wait to talk with you about it.

On top of our book club discussion, I will be revealing the responses from a Q&A with Kim Liggett about her book and why she wanted to bring this story to life.

Following the conversation, her answers will be posted here and the Q&A that I’ve developed so you can replicate this one in your own local book clubs.

The Grace Year Book Club Free Printable Bookmark

What is The Grace Year About?

In case you didn’t catch my announcement about our January pick, I’ll give you a quick synopsis (with no spoilers). 

No one actually speaks of the grace year, but this is a rite of passage for all the girls in Garner County.

In this dystopian environment, the men believe that women are able to drive them mad with jealousy because of a powerful aphrodisiac that is emitted from their skin.

Their power to lure grown men,  is why they must be sent to the forest to release their magic into the wild.

To save the men of the county, teenage girls are sent to the forest, to release this, so they can return to their town purified and ready for marriage.

When does their skin emit a powerful aphrodisiac with this potent essence?

Well, unfortunately their sixteenth year releases it and they then must become the grace year girls.

Most girls are resigned to their fate, but there is one girl who thinks this ritual takes her away from a better life.

Sixteen-year-old Tierney James quickly realizes though that these girls aren’t just resigned to their coming-of-age duties…they are out to stop anyone who gets in their way.

The Grace Year Book Club Free Printable Bookmark

The Grace Year Book Club Free Printable Bookmark

As a gift to you, I wanted to share a printable bookmark that was designed just for you by a very talented designer (designer- M.J. from Pars Caeli).

We used the quote, “Your eyes are wide open, but you see nothing,” which was a sentence that stood out to me. Not only is it thoughtful for the plot of this book, but I believe it is  something that we are dealing with in the reality of these modern days.

Please print out this free download, cut it to your desired size, hole punch it, and loop some scarlet ribbon through it. 

I hope you love these freebie as much as I love sharing it.

My goal is to make the book club even more interactive this year and I hope this is just one way I can show my appreciation for your participation.

Click HERE to Download The Grace Year Bookmark 

Love this post? Here are a few others you might love!

January Book Club Pick: The Grace Year by Kim Liggett learn more about our january book club selection (and why you should read it)

MomAdvice 2020 Book Club Selections get the full list of titles for this year’s book club discussions

The Best Books of 2019 from MomAdvice.com not enough books? don’t miss my list of the 20 best books of 2019 for your stack!

Happy reading, friends!

The Grace Year Book Club Free Printable Bookmark

 

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