Archive for the ‘Book Gang Podcast’ Category

Surprising Truths About Grief with Amy Lin (Here After)

Thursday, April 18th, 2024
Surprising Truths About Grief with Amy Lin (Here After)

Amy Lin discusses her emotional debut memoir Here After. She offers surprising revelations about the grief process and better ways to show up for grievers.

In our fear of saying the wrong thing, we often don’t get to engage in essential conversations like the one we share today.

Amy Lin, author of Here After, joins the Book Gang podcast to discuss her powerful memoir on grief and loss and what she wants you to understand about young widowhood.

Here After By Amy Lin

Here After Book Summary

Lin never expected to find a love like the one she shared with her husband, Kurtis, a gifted young architect who pulls her toward joy, adventure, and greater self-acceptance. But thirty-two-year-old Kurtis unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind Amy, who struggled to navigate the loss while simultaneously confronting a life-threatening medical crisis. 

This sparse memoir was handcrafted for grievers as Amy shares the painstaking process down to margin, white space, and book size to give readers both space and understanding of her grief experience. 

More importantly, she offers life-altering advice on our falsehoods about grief, from the misconceptions around grief timelines to what we shouldn’t say to those experiencing loss.

After hearing Amy’s sage advice today, I promise you will be a better friend, sister, daughter, or mother after listening to this conversation. 

To accompany today’s show, I have a Books On Grief and Loss book list with fiction and nonfiction selections for adult and young readers. 

Here After Quote (Amy Lin)

I’ve also gathered a curated collection of grief quotes from these books that speak to this universal experience in comforting ways to give words to this experience. I hope you feel both seen and loved through all of this.

Amy Lin

Meet Amy Lin

Amy Lin is a writer and educator who lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her work has been published in Ploughshares, and she has been awarded residencies from Yaddo and Casa Comala. Here After is her debut novel.

Surprising Truths About Grief With Amy Lin (Here After)

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform! You can download the transcript below:

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon helps this show remain independent and on air for $5 a month. You will gain access to our 2024 MomAdvice Book Club, the FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more! 

Join the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Book

Books on Grief and Loss Book List

Grief Quotes From Books

A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney

Here After by Amy Lin

Zibby Books

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy Lin on InstagramSubstack, or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

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New Historical Fiction To Read in 2024

Thursday, April 11th, 2024

This special crossover episode with Thoughts from a Page offers five new historical fiction books in 2024 to read now of compelling women throughout history.

Cindy Burnett, the host of the Thoughts from a Page podcast, joins our show in this special crossover episode to discuss her favorite new historical fiction books for 2024 that readers will love. 

We discuss the most memorable books we read when we first began exploring this genre, the upcoming publishing trends for this year in historical fiction,  and common misconceptions (and gripes) on what we feel is essential in a fantastic book selection. 

Cindy also brings five incredible novels featuring powerful narratives exploring accounts of remarkable women throughout history. We know you will love reading these books this Spring! 

Cindy Burnett

Meet Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page Podcast)

Cindy Burnett hosts the Thoughts from a Page Podcast where she engages in compelling author interviews and discussions with industry professionals. Beyond her podcast, she actively promotes books through social media, writes columns for The Buzz Magazines, contributes monthly reviews to Bookreporter.com, and co-creates Conversations from a Page—an author event series in Houston.

New Historical Fiction To Read in 2024

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Readers can access a transcription for today’s show embedded below.

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including access to our 2024 MomAdvice Book Club, the FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more!

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Meet Our New Book Gang

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Miss Del Rio by Barbara Mujica

The Editor by Stephen Rowley

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

The Women by Kristin Hannah

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

The Queen of Sugar Hill by Reshonda Tate

The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader

The Magic of Old Hollywood Podcast Episode with Amy and Molly Fader

The Best Books About Old Hollywood to Get Swept Away

The Best New Historical Fiction of 2023 (In Case You Missed It)

Reel by Kennedy Ryan

Cindy’s episode with Reshonda Tate

This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process Podcast

The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Firefly Lane TV Series

The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

Connect With Us:

Connect with Cindy Burnett on Thoughts from a Page Podcast, Instagram, or the Thoughts from a Page website.

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

This post contains affiliate links.

The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives With Heart

Wednesday, March 27th, 2024

Kennedy Ryan discusses her rise to the NYT bestseller list as a Black romance writer with moving advocacy for autism representation in This Could Be Us.

The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives With Heart

There is a reason everyone wants to be a part of Kennedy Ryan’s story—her joy is infectious.

Today, we offer listeners a front-row seat to her romance Booktok fandom, sold-out book tours, and moving victory as a Black romance writer on the New York Times bestseller list. 

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

Ryan openly discusses her connection to the autism community and the beauty and challenge of capturing that on a page for the reader in her latest novel.

Representing autism authentically meant the writer took surprising steps to ensure an accurate and respectful portrayal of family life in This Could Be Us

Reel by Kennedy Ryan

Readers will get a 2-for-1 conversation as we also discuss the rerelease of Reel and details on the upcoming books in the Hollywood Renaissance series.

We discuss what it means to be a hybrid author and her commitment to immersive research, ensuring her stories resonate authentically with readers no matter where you find her stories. 

Books With Autistic Characters for Autism Acceptance Month

Today’s BONUS book celebrates Autism Acceptance Month! I’ve featured 13 books with autistic characters filled with heartwarming love stories, mystery, and family drama.

The list features many #ownvoices books, including the authors’ diagnosis stories and the characters they developed to offer readers insights into their journeys. As a parent in the community, I hope I’ve crafted a list that will allow you to immerse yourself in these stories.

Kennedy Ryan Author

Meet Kennedy Ryan

USA Today’s bestselling author and Audie Award-winner, Kennedy Ryan, writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. The co-founder of Lift 4 Autism, an annual charitable book auction, she has a passion for raising Autism awareness. Kennedy is a wife to her “lifetime lover” and mother to an extraordinary son. 

The Kennedy Ryan Phenomenon: Inclusive Narratives With Heart

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including access to our 2024 MomAdvice Book Club, the FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more! 

Meet the 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books

Browse This Week’s Book List Featuring #OwnVoices for Autism Acceptance Month

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

The Unseen World by Liz Moore

LOGAN Autism Center

The Autism Books by Autistic Authors Database

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Life 4 Autism 

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

Reel by Kennedy Ryan

Connect With Us:

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect with Kennedy Ryan on Instagram, Tiktok, or her Website

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Get the Kindle Daily Deals Newsletter

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

This post contains affiliate links.

Trapped in a Time Loop Novel

Thursday, March 14th, 2024
Trapped in a Time Loop Novel

 In today’s podcast, escape in a time loop novel. We discuss Groundhog Day books and the comforting ways repeating time travel can charm us in our book stack.

When we say “time loop,” readers immediately react to this statement. Whether it is a no or a yes, Jessica and I have you covered in today’s podcast. 

We discuss why repeating cycles of events work for us or don’t and how some of the storytellers featured today nailed moving the time loop plot forward in new ways. 

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

Plus, I’m revealing a treasure trove of new time travel resources, including new time travel books, TV, and movies you can stream this weekend to explore a new world that won’t break the bank.

I hope it brings unlimited joy to your weekend, as was the intention of this creator who lovingly created these spaces for you.     

Time Loop Books for Readers Who Love Loops

Today’s BONUS book list celebrates the 14 time loop books to read now. This list includes new releases, thrillers, mysteries, YA, and holiday books.

But wait, there’s more!

Our incredible super-expansion pack of time travel adventures is linked to today’s show notes. These include a massive refresh on new time travel books, alternate realities, and parallel lives, and explorations of parallel worlds and the multiverse.

Meet Jessica Bearak

Jessica is a lifelong book lover who embarked on her literary journey at three, immersing herself in childhood classics like “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “The Phantom Tollbooth.”

Jessica actively participates in two in-person book clubs and many online discussions regularly. She has been an invaluable member of the MomAdvice Book Club and joins us as a regular contributing voice.

Trapped in a Time Loop Novel

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including access to our 2024 MomAdvice Book Club, the FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more! 

NEW Resources for Readers (I did something I promised- gold star!!):

The Best Prime Reading Guide (10 FREE Books for March)

Time Loop Books Giant Book List (14 Book Ideas)

Books About Parallel Universes and Multiverse Book List (13 Book Ideas)

Books About Alternate Realities or Parallel Lives You Will Love (12 Book Ideas)

New Time Travel Books to Escape Real Life (20 Book Ideas)

Better Than the Movies Movie List (FREE PRINTABLE)

The Best Time Travel TV & Movies Streaming List (NEW)

Best Lynn Painter Books (The Ultimate Guide)

Other Show Mentions:

Meet the NEW 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books

The Unseen World by Liz Moore

The Mindful Librarian Substack

The Couch With Mary Carver Podcast

Totally Killer on Prime

Quantum Leap (1989-1993)

Quantum Leap reboot

Sarah Adler’s Podcast Episode

11/22/63 by Stephen King

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

Blake Crouch

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen

Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen

Alex Awards

If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon

The Do Over by Lynn Painter

The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch

Blaine for the Win by Robbie Couch

Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter

The Deja Glitch by Holly James

Through the Snow Globe by Annie Rains

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas

The Possibilities by Yael Goldstein-Love

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

The Best Lessons From Time Travel Books

Connect With Us:

Get My Happy List Newsletter

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Connect With Jessica on Instagram

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

This post contains affiliate links.

This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process

Thursday, February 29th, 2024

Discover emerging book cover trends and what this book cover designer from Faceout Studio has learned about the publishing process from concept to execution.

This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Faceout Studio book designer Elisha Zepeda as he takes us on a journey from working in a bookstore to navigating his first year in book cover design. 

Elisha navigates the challenges of cover rejection through a unique avenue- his TikTok account, where readers can discuss the rejected and accepted designs with him.

Today he shares what he sees as emerging trend in cover design and the struggles he’s faced with everything from font selection to breaking out of the “girl turning away” cover that we can’t seem to escape from as readers.  

If you are entertaining a self-publishing journey, Elisha shares valuable tips on communication, budgeting, and bringing your visions to life in your book covers. 

Here are examples of beautiful book cover designs from emerging designer Elisha Zepeda:

The Woman With a Purple Heart by Diane Hanks
Ain't No Promised Land by Tina Shelton
Cities of Women by Kathleen B. Jones

We couldn’t have him on the show and not discuss his recommendations for some standout covers that have captured his imagination and hear more about his process of honoring an author’s work through unique details that created reverence for the person who spent months or even years on their books. 

Elisha Zepeda- Book Cover Designer With Faceout Studio

Meet Elisha Zepeda 

Elisha is a book designer for Faceout Studio in Oregon. He documents his publishing journey on his Tiktok account, where readers can see how his book designs evolve from concept to final product.

When not designing books, he is writing/recording music, toying with a film camera, or defending the merits of decaf over regular coffee. You can view his portfolio on his website, where he curates his work. 

This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining Patreon provides valuable financial support to my show. You will also receive our FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, a 30-page monthly newsletter, and access to our monthly Zoom book club.

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Meet the NEW 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books

The Unseen World by Liz Moore

The Mindful Librarian Substack

Faceout Studio

Browse Elisha’s Entire Portfolio

Dudley’s Bookshop

The Best Libby App Tips and Tricks

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

Cities of Women by Kathleen B. Jones

The Woman with a Purple Heart by Diane Hanks

Bluff by Michael Kardos

Shake It Up, Baby! by Ken McNab

Criterion Collection Posters

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

Rodrigo Corral

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou

Bad Thoughts by Nada Alic

Connect With Us:

Connect With Elisha on His Website or Tiktok

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!

How Shark Heart Transformed Emily Habeck and Her Readers

Thursday, February 15th, 2024

Emily Habeck discusses her widely imaginative debut novel, Shark Heart, and how this writing project transformed her life and the lives of her readers.

How Shark Heart Transformed Emily Habeck and Her Readers

It’s no secret that Shark Heart was my favorite debut of the year, and today’s meaningful author conversation only solidified this moving reading experience.

We discuss the unusual overlap to our love stories and the other surprising emotional connections readers have made to this imagined world.

Emily’s success in literary fiction was a surprise, but the reason for her jump from screenplay writing to a novel may surprise you with how she ended up here.

Drawing from her theatrical background, Habeck shares more about her unique story structure and how magical realism can still offer the reader a grounded experience.

The Best Magical Realism Books to Read Now

Discover today’s BONUS BOOK LIST with 29 magical realism books for your book stack this month.

Emily joins our patron space to discuss the Shark Heart ending with surprising candidness on some of this story’s more unusual paths she chose, but even more so, the ways she DIDN’T decide to go to get to this book’s ending.

You will receive this episode AND today’s book list as a thank you for supporting my show.

Emily Habeck Author of Shark Heart

Meet Emily Habeck

Emily Habeck has a BFA in Theater from Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts as well as master’s degrees from Vanderbilt Divinity School and Vanderbilt’s Peabody College.

Her debut novel Shark Heart was a Book of the Month selection, a New York Times book review editor’s choice, and the #1 Indie Next pick for August 2023.

She is from Ardmore, Oklahoma and currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

Discover Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

A shocking discovery unfolds in Lewis and Wren’s first year of marriage, a time that should be rooted in great happiness.  Lewis is diagnosed with a rare condition that gradually turns him into a shark in this story’s wildly imaginative plot.

As he struggles with his diagnosis and evolving transformation, Wren rises to meet these daily challenges in moving ways. She is no stranger to genetic mutations and how quickly her world can evolve and readers uncover a stunning backstory to Wren’s journey. 

But as Lewis’s new shark existence takes over, readers are taken on an equally meaningful adventure with an unlikely accomplice that the reader will never expect. 

How Shark Heart Transformed Emily Habeck and Her Readers

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Book Gang Patreon

Meet the NEW 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

The Best Debut Novels of 2023

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

The Candy House by Jennifer Egan

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

Connect With Us:

Subscribe to my FREE Happy List Newsletter

Connect With Emily on Instagram or her Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores

The Most Unique Only One Bed Moments in Romance (Podcast)

Thursday, February 1st, 2024

Sarah Adler discusses writing her quirky debut novel Mrs. Nash’s Ashes and her favorite memorable “only one bed” moments in romance.

The Most Unique Only One Bed Moments in Romance Podcast

Sarah Adler didn’t know she was writing a romance book when she started her novel. She wasn’t even a romance reader. All of that changed, though, when she wrote Mrs. Nash’s Ashes, her debut romance novel. 

Today, Sarah Adler provides a behind-the-scenes look into her publishing journey, recounting the rollercoaster ride of rejections, what it is like to have a novel go to auction, and what this book taught her about identity that she was surprised to uncover through her characters.

Sarah’s “only one bed” scene I now count among my favorite romance moments, and we discuss her favorite books that uniquely capture this dilemma and why this has become such a beloved romance trope for readers. 

The Best One-Bed Trope Books for Romance Lovers

Don’t miss today’s BONUS BOOK LIST, which include The Best One Bed Trope Books for Romance Lovers.

Patrons of our show will receive a printable version of today’s book list as a thank you for your support!

Sarah Adler Author

Meet Sarah Adler

Sarah Adler writes romantic comedies about lovable weirdos finding their happily ever afters. She lives in Maryland with her husband and daughter and spends an inordinate amount of her time yelling at her mischievous cat to stop opening the kitchen cabinets.

The Most Unique Only One Bed Moments in Romance (Podcast)

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including access to our 2024 MomAdvice Book Club, the FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more! 

Meet the NEW 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books

Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan

The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church

Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler

You by Caroline Kepnes

Caroline Kepnes Interview with Amy

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

Paint by Number Jesus Art

Mrs. Nash’s Ashes Playlist

The WAVES Program in World War II

New Orleans Rush by Kelly Siskind

A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare

A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

Comic Absurdity and Deep Emotion: PW Talks with Tessa Dare

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

Beth O’Leary | ‘I wrote almost all the book on the train…’

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Happy Medium by Sarah Adler

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

Connect With Us:

Connect with Sarah on Instagram, on Substack, or on Her Website

Subscribe to my FREE Happy List Newsletter 

Connect with Amy on Instagram, on TikTok, or MomAdvice

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

Let’s Head to Art School With These Amazing Books

Thursday, January 18th, 2024
Let's Head to Art School With These Amazing Books

Head to art school with debut novelist Antonia Angress today. We discuss the inspiration for her debut novel, Sirens & Muses, which was a best debut of 2023.

If you have ever dreamed of attending art school, you will want to tune in to today’s discussion and fictional art book stack.

Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress

Today, we are joined by debut novelist Antonia Angress as she shares her inspiration for Sirens & Muses and how pursuing an MFA program allowed her the time and resources to finally pivot from a career in teaching to her dream of writing.

Angress shares the surprising discovery that her novel, set during the financial crisis of the 2010s, has been deeply meaningful for Gen Z readers as they also face their own uncertainty and disillusionment.

We also discuss how success in the art world is often influenced by class, making it inaccessible to marginalized groups, and what we can learn from adding characters from different wealth spectrums to her dialogue to showcase the scarcity of artistic resources for many students.

The Best Books About Art and Artists to Read Now

Check out this BONUS LIST of 27 book titles that include the best books about art and artists for your month.

Patrons receive a printable version of today’s checklist as a thank you!

Antonia Angress

Meet Antonia Angress

Antonia Angress is the author of the novel Sirens & Muses, which was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award and was named a Best Book of 2022 by Glamour, PopSugar, and Debutiful. She is a graduate of Brown University and received her MFA from the University of Minnesota, where she was a Winifred Fiction Fellow and a College of Liberal Arts Fellow.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Costa Rica, she currently lives in Minneapolis with her family.

Let’s Head to Art School With These Amazing Books

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

Joining the Patreon community is an affordable way to support the show and gain access to a wealth of resources, including our monthly FULLY BOOKED buzzy new release show, exclusive author interviews, music playlists, and more! 

Meet the NEW 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books

Bluff by Michael Kardos

The Best Fiction Books of 2023

The Best Debut Novels of 2023 to Not Miss

Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress

Sirens & Muses Book Club Guide & Cocktail Recipe

Life Drawing by Robin Black

Self-Portrait with Boy by Rachel Lyon

Zoe Kravitz & Thomas McKenzie to Lead Mona Fastvold’s Psychological Horror “Self-Portrait”

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

“The Masterpiece:” NYC’s Grand Central as One of the Stars

The Fiona Davis Interview You Need to Hear

My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

Fake Like Me by Barbara Bourland

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

Connect With Us:

Connect With Antonia Angress on Instagram or Website

Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice

Buy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

The Best Fiction Books of 2023

Thursday, January 4th, 2024
The Best Fiction Books of 2023

Looking for your next page-turner? These are the best fiction books of 2023 we read, along with some of our favorite backlist books for your best reading year.

Happy New Year, friends! This reading recap has always been my favorite post of the year, and I’m so excited to share our favorite books from 2023 with you.

Storygraph Stats

This year, I devoured 102 books and over 35,000 pages. This number is less than the prior year, but I also made a goal to watch 52 films (or a TV season), which brought a beautiful balance into my reading life.

It was so fun to document that and share movie dates with the people I love in my life.

The 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books Are Here

We ushered in our 2024 book club books, and I loved sharing almost every week with an author in conversation for the Book Gang podcast and MomAdvice Book Club.

Today, you can hear my incredible co-host Larry Hoffer and I discuss our top books of the year, including some excellent backlist books we just discovered.

The Best Fiction Books of 2023 Checklists

JOIN THE PATREON COMMUNITY TO UNLOCK THE PRINTABLE

We want to thank our patrons who have helped fund this space and given us a platform to share each year.

To say THANK YOU, you received a printable version of this checklist to document your reading with us. There is no better time to join than now- we will shower you in bookish gifts.

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

There is truly something for everyone on this year’s fiction list. This list of best nonfiction books offers my top recommendations and will be updated soon with some newer selections from this year.

I have a long list of books I can’t wait to get into, and these three buzy books may be on next year’s list!

Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (I SNAGGED A SIGNED COPY!)

Heaven and Earth Grocery Story by James McBride

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

The Best Fictions Books of 2023

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

AMY'S BEST BOOKS OF 2023

Browse my favorite books of the year to snag your next favorite fiction book.

BEST HISTORICAL FICTION 2023

These historical fiction books were among my favorites read in 2023.

BEST LITERARY FICTION 2023

These 2023 literary fiction books were among my favorite books of the year.

BEST FANTASY BOOKS 2023

Craving a cozy fantasy or a fast-paced romantasy selection? These are my favorite fantasy books from 2023.

BACKLIST BOOKS

The majority of the books I read this year fall in the backlist books category as I was hosting a backlist book club year. A backlist book is a year older or more and likely available at your local library.

LARRY'S BEST BOOKS OF 2023

From today's transcript, here are a small portion of the best books of 2023 from Larry. We encourage readers to head to his blog, where he has documented even MORE books, including some of his honorable mentions this year.

Love this post? Be sure to check out these other great lists!

Best Books of 2022

Best Books of 2021

Best Books of 2020

Best Books of 2019

Best Books of 2018

Best Books of 2017

My Top Ten Books of 2016

My Top Ten Books of 2015

My Top Ten Books of 2014

My Top Ten Books of 2013

The Best Books Read in 2012

My Top Ten Books in 2011

TELL ME: What were YOUR favorite fiction books of 2023?

Meet Our New Book Gang

Thursday, January 4th, 2024
Meet Our New Book Gang Podcast

Meet my new book gang collaboration with Victoria from The Reader’s Couch Podcast and Cindy from Thoughts from a Page Podcast, as we embark on a new journey.

I’m thrilled to bring you a special pop-up episode announcing a fabulous new collaboration for the upcoming year. I couldn’t be more excited to team up with my bookish friends, Victoria from The Reader’s Couch Podcast and Cindy from Thoughts from a Page Podcast, as we embark on our own little book gang adventure.

These incredible hosts share my love for reading. Today we dive into how this love for reading began and take a behind-the-scenes look at how our communities started. 

You’ll also get a sneak peek at our favorite reads of the year and the upcoming releases we can’t wait to get our hands on.

Through this partnership, you can expect to hear us regularly on each other’s podcasts, discussing our favorite books and delving into all the reading-related fun that fuels our shows and passions. 

It is SO beautiful when women lift each other up, and I hope you feel that excitement today through this new collaboration effort.

Victoria Wood- The Reader's Couch Podcast

Meet Victoria Wood (The Reader’s Couch Podcast) 

Victoria Wood hosts The Reader’s Couch Podcast. She is a reading enthusiast who has successfully guided self-proclaimed “non-readers” into cultivating and sustaining reading habits and assisted readers in fostering more intentional and fulfilling reading lives. She hosts conversations with authors to learn more about their writing and reading lives. 

Cindy Burnett- Thoughts from a Page Podcast

Meet Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page Podcast)

Cindy Burnett hosts the Thoughts from a Page Podcast where she engages in compelling author interviews and discussions with industry professionals. Beyond her podcast, she actively promotes books through social media, writes columns for The Buzz Magazines, contributes monthly reviews to Bookreporter.com, and co-creates Conversations from a Page—an author event series in Houston.

Meet Our New Book Gang

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

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Meet the NEW 2024 MomAdvice Book Club Books

Bluff by Michael Kardos

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene

Trixie Belden The Secret of the Mansion by Julie Campbell

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Six Months to Live by Lurlene McDaniel

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Enid Blyton

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Turn of the Screw by Henry James

The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

The Girls We Sent Away by Meagan Church

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos

Homecoming by Kate Morton

I Could Live Here Forever by Hannah Halperin

The Last Word by Taylor Adams

The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez

Real Americans by Rachel Khong

Goodbye Vitamin by Rachel Khong

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

There There by Tommy Orange

The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones

My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

Northwoods by Amy Pease

The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill

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