Join us for a laugh-out-loud chat with Liann Zhang on her twisty con-artist thriller Julie Chan Is Dead, a wild ride through twin swaps and influencer scams.

This week, we’re diving into a debut thriller that’s frothy, funny, and unhinged in the best way. Liann Zhang joins me for a laugh-out-loud conversation about her new novel, Julie Chan Is Dead—a genre-blending con-artist thriller about identical twin sisters whose lives split in dramatically different directions… until one of them winds up dead.

When the authorities mistake Julie for her famous sister, she makes a bold choice: to step into Chloe’s perfectly curated shoes and steal her life. What follows is a fast-paced, satirical exploration of influencer culture, viral content, and the dark side of social media fame.

In the spirit of the influencer theme, we share the most bizarre influencer swag we’ve ever received before digging into how a pandemic-fueled fascination with influencer culture allowed Liann to take a break from her dreams of writing about the Ming Dynasty.

We also talk about what it’s like to write a morally murky protagonist, the grotesque cult subplot that takes things to the next level, and why this book just might be Bunny meets Yellowface with a touch of The Bling Ring.

In this fun conversation, Liann and I discuss:

• How Liann pivoted from writing about the Ming Dynasty to a viral con-artist thriller
• Why influencer culture during the pandemic was the perfect satirical setting
• Creating the character of Julie: an intriguing anti-heroine who fully leans into her morally gray side.
• The ongoing need for critical consumption of influencer content

Can I parent-trap you into a new book list? If Julie Chan Is Dead got you hooked on stories about sisters and identity swaps, don’t miss this week’s themed list on Books About Twins. You’ll find chilling mysteries, psychological thrillers, and heart-tugging literary fiction that explore the unique dynamics only twins can share!

Julie Chan is Dead Book Summary

In this debut thriller perfect for fans of Bunny and Yellowface, a young woman steps into her deceased twin’s influencer life, only to discover dark secrets hidden behind her social media façade.

Julie Chan has nothing. Her twin sister has everything. Except a pulse.

Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier with nothing to lose, finds herself thrust into the glamorous yet perilous world of her late twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen, a popular influencer. Separated at a young age, the identical twins were polar opposites and rarely spoke, except for one viral video that Chloe initiated (Finding My Long-Lost Twin And Buying Her A House #EMOTIONAL). When Julie discovers Chloe’s lifeless body under mysterious circumstances, she seizes the chance to live the life she’s always envied.

Transforming into Chloe is easier than expected. Julie effortlessly adopts Chloe’s luxurious influencer life, complete with designer clothes, a meticulous skincare routine, and millions of adoring followers. However, Julie soon realizes that Chloe’s seemingly picture-perfect life was anything but.

Haunted by Chloe’s untimely death and struggling to fit into the privileged influencer circle, Julie faces mounting challenges during a weeklong island retreat with Chloe’s exclusive group of influencer friends. As events spiral out of control, Julie uncovers the sinister forces that may have led to her sister’s demise and realizes she might be the next target.

Meet Liann Zhang

Liann Zhang is a second-generation Chinese Canadian who splits her time between Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario. After a short stint as a skincare content creator, she graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in psychology and criminology. Julie Chan Is Dead is her first novel.

Unboxing the Influencer Life

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Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang

Anna Delvey

Apple Cider Vinegar

Julie Chan is Dead PR box

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Journalist Claire Hoffman unpacks Sister, Sinner, the gripping true crime story of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson’s disappearance and miraculous return.

If you’ve never heard the name, Aimee Semple McPherson, you’re not alone—but Claire Hoffman’s Sister Sinner will ensure you never forget her name again as America’s first mega-preacher.

Today, we discuss this riveting biography, which opens with the astonishing true story of Aimee, who shaped modern evangelicalism, vanished into the ocean for 35 days, and returned with a kidnapping tale so wild it led to two sensational trials. The author was the first researcher granted access to the complete court records of Aimee’s grand jury trial—records that, for more than a century, the Foursquare Church has refused to share with the outside world.

Uncover her journalistic approach, which is both deeply researched and refreshingly secular. Embracing Aimee’s contradictions—faith healer and showman, sinner and saint, feminist and fundamentalist creates a page-turning experience. Whether religious or not, you’ll love this conversation on how charisma, celebrity, and faith collide.

In this intimate and insightful conversation, Claire and I discuss:

• Her background and five-year research process to bring Aimee’s story to life
• Why Aimee’s disappearance is the opening chapter, and what type of reader did she hope the true crime angle might pull in a reluctant biography reader
• How Claire’s background as a journalist for Rolling Stone has given her a unique lens into the world of what it means to be a celebrity
• The effort and reverence required when accessing court documents like this for a project

BONUS BOOK LIST: I’ve curated a list of 28 incredible books about faith and churches featuring buzzworthy new releases and must-read backlist gems. Browse while you listen!

Love this show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts—it’s a free way to support my work and help other book lovers find us.

Sister, Sinner Book Summary

On a spring day in 1926, Aimee Semple McPherson wandered into the Pacific Ocean and vanished. Weeks later she reappeared in the desert, claiming to have been kidnapped. A national media frenzy and months of investigation ensued. Who was this woman?

America’s most famous evangelist, McPherson was a sophisticated marketer who used spectacle, storytelling, and the newest technology—including her own radio station—to bring God’s message to the masses. Her innovations brought Pentecostalism into the mainstream, paved the way for televangelists, and shaped the future of American Christianity. Her Angelus Temple in Echo Park, Los Angeles, can be called the first megachurch. Her Foursquare Church continues, with more than eight million faithful around the world.

But after her disappearance, as crowds gathered at the water’s edge, people asked: Was McPherson everybody’s saintly sister, or a con-artist sinner? The story of what happened next—sex scandals, religious persecution, legal shenanigans, the seemingly unshakable faith of thousands of followers, and the race to cover it all—runs through the center of Claire Hoffman’s thrilling Sister, Sinner.

A riveting journey into the rise of popular religion in America and life in early Hollywood, and told with the flavor of the period’s noir mysteries, this is an unforgettable story of an iconic woman, largely overlooked, who changed the world.

Meet Claire Hoffman

Claire Hoffman is the author of the memoir Greetings from Utopia Park and a journalist reporting for national magazines on culture, religion, celebrity, business, and more. She was formerly a staff reporter for the Los Angeles Times and Rolling Stone. She is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz, and has an MA in religion from the University of Chicago and an MA in journalism from Columbia University. She serves on the boards of the Columbia School of Journalism, ProPublica, and the Brooklyn Public Library. Her new book is SISTER, SINNER: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson.

The Evangelist Who Vanished and Returned

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Sister, Sinner by Claire Hoffman

Greetings From Utopia Park by Claire Hoffman

Charles Duhigg

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Sarah Harman shares the journey behind All the Other Mothers Hate Me, from journalism to fiction, a fierce book auction, and its upcoming FX adaptation.

You’ll know immediately if this book is for you from the opening line:

“The missing boy is ten-year-old Alfie Risby, and to be perfectly honest with you, he’s a little shit.”

That audacious beginning sets the tone for All the Other Mothers Hate Me, a compulsively readable thriller perfect for fans of Big Little Lies and Finlay Donovan.

Sarah Harman’s journey to publication is just as gripping as her novel. A former foreign correspondent for NBC News, Harman’s background in breaking news reporting brings a sharp, fast-paced edge to her storytelling. Her debut became the subject of a fierce bidding war, ultimately securing a major deal—and soon, it’ll hit the screen, adapted for FX by The Bear’s Christopher Storer.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How All the Other Mothers Hate Me subverts the missing-child thriller trope
• The surreal experience of a nine-way auction for her book deal
• Her involvement in adapting the novel for television
• The cultural and feminist themes woven into her story

BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s book list features 30 Amateur Sleuths in Novels that will keep you on your toes. From upcoming releases to backlist gems, we’ve got plenty of whodunits to explore.

Join the Conversation!

Who is your favorite amateur sleuth in fiction? Drop a comment on Spotify—I’d love to hear your recommendations!

All the Other Mothers Hate Me Book Summary

Florence Grimes is a thirty-one-year-old party girl who always takes the easy way out. Single, broke and unfulfilled after the humiliating end to her girl band career, she has only one reason to get out of bed each day: her ten-year-old son Dylan. But then Alfie Risby, her son’s bully and the heir to a vast frozen food empire, mysteriously vanishes during a class trip, and Dylan becomes the prime suspect. Florence, for once, is faced with a task she can’t quit: She’s got to find Alfie and clear her son’s name, or risk losing Dylan forever.

The only problem? Florence has no discernible skills, let alone detective ones, and all the other school moms hate her. Oh, and Florence has a reason to suspect Dylan might not be as innocent as she’d like to believe…

Hilarious and twisted, propulsive and furious, All the Other Mothers Hate Me is the must-read book of 2025.

Meet Sarah Harman

Sarah Harman is an American journalist-turned-thriller writer living in London. Before making her fiction debut, she spent over a decade covering major global news stories. Her novel All the Other Mothers Hate Me is out now from Putnam, with translation rights sold in 15 countries and a TV adaptation in the works.

How Sarah Harman’s Debut Took Publishing by Storm

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NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 30 Unlikely Amateur Sleuths Are On The Case In This Book Stack

Join the March Book Club Chat (Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson)

All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman

Professional Book Nerds: Spring’s Best New Books with Amy Allen Clark

Emancipation of Mimi

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Sorrow & Bliss by Meg Mason

Fleabag

Young Adult

Bad Teacher

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Jinwoo Chong celebrates food, family, & finding love in his cozy novel, I Leave It Up To You. Learn how this project helped him fall in love with writing again.

What if you fell asleep in 2019 and woke up in 2021? That’s the reality for Jack Jr., who emerges from a two-year coma to find his life unrecognizable. His job is gone, his apartment is lost, and his partner has moved on. But in his return to his childhood home and his family’s struggling restaurant, he begins to rebuild—rekindling relationships, rediscovering love, and redefining what home truly means.

Jinwoo Chong shares the beautiful inspiration behind this poignant and tender slice-of-life novel, which seamlessly blends a swoon-worthy love story with a cozy family drama. We discuss how I Leave It Up to You evolved from a short story, the impact of the pandemic on its themes, and the role of food as both a comfort and a metaphor for resilience.

BONUS BOOK LIST: Don’t miss our Captivating Books About Nurses Book List, featuring 28 incredible new and backlist titles celebrating caregivers.

I Leave It Up To You Book Summary

A coma can change a man, but the world Jack Jr. awakens to is one he barely recognizes. His advertising job is history, his Manhattan apartment is gone, and the love of his life has left him behind. He’s been asleep for two years; with no one to turn to, he realizes it’s been ten years since he last saw his family.

Lost and disoriented, he makes a reluctant homecoming back to the bustling Korean American enclave of Fort Lee, New Jersey; back into the waiting arms of his parents, who are operating under the illusion that he never left; and back to Joja, their ever-struggling sushi restaurant that he was set to inherit before he ran away from it all. As he steps back into the life he abandoned—learning his Appa’s life lessons over crates of tuna on bleary-eyed 4 a.m. fish runs, doling out amberjack behind the omakase counter while his Umma tallies the night’s pitiful number of customers, and sparring with his recovering alcoholic brother, James—he embraces new roles, too: that of romantic interest to the nurse who took care of him, and that of sage (but underqualified) uncle to his gangly teenage nephew.

There is value in the joyous rhythms of this once-abandoned life. But second chances are an even messier business than running a restaurant, and the lure of a self-determined path might, once again, prove too hard to resist.

Meet Jinwoo Chong

Jinwoo Chong is the author of Flux, a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway and VCU Cabell First Novel awards, and a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice. His work has appeared in The Southern Review, Guernica, The Rumpus, and more. His latest novel, I Leave It Up to You, is now available from Penguin Random House.

How a Cozy Family Drama Made This Love Fall In Love With His Craft (Jinwoo Chong Interview)

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NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 30 Captivating Books About Nurses

Join the March Book Club Chat (Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson)

I Leave It Up to You by Jinwoo Chong

Flux by Jinwoo Chong

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Eowyn Ivey joins us from Alaska to discuss her latest magical realism novel, Black Woods Blue Sky. Prepare to be transported by one of my favorite storytellers.

The queen of magical realism, Eowyn Ivey, joins us to share intriguing insights into her third novel, Black Woods Blue Sky, and how her deep connection to Alaska continues to shape her storytelling.

She also discusses the challenges of writing through a difficult personal season, the impact of reuniting with her longtime editorial team, and the immersive research that took her to a remote hunting camp on Kodiak Island.

Discover her ties to the character Emmaleen, how Birdie’s contradictions capture the realities of relatable motherhood, and what stereotypes about rural Alaska she wanted to challenge through her character’s bookish adventures.

Don’t miss this week’s Fairy Tale Retellings Book List featuring 27 magical books to escape with this weekend.  

Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation! Eowyn will share her thoughts on Blackwood’s Blue Sky ending and the fine line she teetered between reality and imagination in her moving story. Get your tissues- it’s a beautiful bonus chat.

Black Woods Blue Sky Book Summary

Birdie’s keeping it together; of course she is. So she’s a little hungover, sometimes, and she has to bring her daughter, Emaleen, to her job waiting tables at an Alaskan roadside lodge, but she’s getting by as a single mother in a tough town. Still, Birdie can remember happier times from her youth, when she was free in the wilds of nature.

Arthur Neilsen, a soft-spoken and scarred recluse who appears in town only at the change of seasons, brings Emaleen back to safety when she gets lost in the woods. Most people avoid him, but to Birdie, he represents everything she’s ever longed for. She finds herself falling for Arthur and the land he knows so well.

Against the warnings of those who care about them, Birdie and Emaleen move to his isolated cabin in the mountains, on the far side of the Wolverine River.

It’s just the three of them in the vast black woods, far from roads, telephones, electricity, and outside contact, but Birdie believes she has come prepared. At first, it’s idyllic and she can picture a happily ever after: Together they catch salmon, pick berries, and climb mountains so tall it’s as if they could touch the bright blue sky. But soon Birdie discovers that Arthur is something much more mysterious and dangerous than she could have ever imagined, and that like the Alaska wilderness, a fairy tale can be as dark as it is beautiful.

Black Woods, Blue Sky is a novel with life-and-death stakes, about the love between a mother and daughter, and the allure of a wild life—about what we gain and what it might cost us.

Meet Eowyn Ivey

Eowyn Ivey is the bestselling author of The Snow Child, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and To the Bright Edge of the World. Born and raised in Alaska, she draws inspiration from its rugged landscapes and folklore. Black Woods Blue Sky is her highly anticipated third novel, which is now available on store shelves from Random House.

Returning to Magical Realism With Eowyn Ivey

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NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 27 Fairy Tale Retellings to Enchant Your Reading Life

Join the March Book Club Chat (Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson)

Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey

Ruth Hulbert

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Erin Crosby Eckstine discusses her debut novel, Junie, and how her family history transformed her life from English teacher to chosen GMA Book Club novelist.

In this episode, Erin Crosby Eckstine shares the storytelling inspiration behind her debut novel Junie, a profoundly personal story rooted in her own family’s history.

Erin reveals how Junie’s character is inspired by her great-great-great-grandmother, Jane Cotton, who escaped slavery and became one of the Black founders of Coosada, Alabama. We discuss the importance of balancing joy and trauma in narratives like these and why it is essential for both readers and those represented in these stories.

You can also discover Erin’s unconventional publishing methods, which led to her becoming a GMA Book Club pick, and how her family legacy catalyzed her going from Google Docs to a finished novel.

Don’t miss this week’s Black History Month book list, featuring 36 phenomenal books by Black authors to celebrate this historic month. All books purchased from today’s list will be fulfilled through Brain Lair Books, a Black-owned bookshop that has been financially struggling and needs your support to keep its doors open.

Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation with Erin Crosby Eckstine, where we discuss the surprising plot twists in Junie and the details of this story that she has always wanted to share with her readers.

Junie Book Summary

Sixteen years old and enslaved since she was born, Junie has spent her life on Bellereine Plantation in Alabama, cooking and cleaning alongside her family, and tending to the white master’s daughter, Violet.

Her daydreams are filled with poetry and faraway worlds, while she spends her nights secretly roaming through the forest, consumed with grief over the sudden death of her older sister, Minnie.

When wealthy guests arrive, upending Junie’s life, she commits a desperate act—one that rouses Minnie’s spirit from the grave, tethered to this world unless Junie can free her.

She enlists the aid of Caleb, the guests’ coachman, and their friendship soon becomes something more. Yet as long-held truths begin to crumble, she realizes Bellereine is harboring dark and horrifying secrets that can no longer be ignored.

With time ticking down, Junie is forced to ask herself: When we choose love and liberation, what must we leave behind?

Meet Erin Crosby Eckstine

Erin Crosby Eckstine is an author of speculative historical fiction, personal essays, and anything else she’s in the mood for. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, she grew up between the South and Los Angeles before moving to New York City to attend Barnard College. She earned a master’s in secondary English education from Stanford University and taught high school English for six years. Erin lives in Brooklyn with her partner and their cats. Junie is her debut novel.

How Family History and Legacy Shaped Junie

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NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: Black History Month Books You Need to Read Now

Join the February Book Club Chat (The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate)

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Sarah Madden

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Jane Austen

Erin as Lady Catherine de Bourgh

The Favorites by Layne Fargo

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Danya Kukafkamo

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

Good Morning America Book Pick

The Celebrity Book Club Deep Diver Episode You Need

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Isabel Allende

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez

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Paging library lovers- Joe from the Libby team is back to share the exciting app updates and his top five horror book recommendations from 2024 to read now.

In this All-Star Book Influencer series installment, we’re thrilled to spotlight Joe Skelley, host of the Professional Book Nerds podcast and a member of the Libby team. Joe shares his favorite features of the Libby app, lesser-known tips for maximizing your library experience, and exciting updates on the horizon for readers.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Sneak peeks at upcoming Libby features and enhancements.
• How to manage packed holds lists and uncover hidden library gems.
• Tips for new Libby users to get started and make the most of the app.

In the second half of the episode, Amy and Joe dive into the world of horror literature. Joe shares:

• What first drew him to horror and why he loves the genre.
• How horror reflects societal fears and captures anxieties relevant to today.
• Advice for readers hesitant to try horror, including recommendations that focus on atmosphere and psychological tension over gore.

Discover five of Joe’s best new horror book recommendations that range from chilling novellas to groundbreaking works by authors redefining the genre.

Whether you’re here for the horror or want to optimize your library experience, this episode has something for every reader.

Meet Joe

Joe Skelley is one of the co-hosts of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. He is also a Marketing and Events Specialist at OverDrive, where he leads the coordination of the Library Vehicle as it tours around the US and Canada, contributes to the Check Out Your Library movement, and works on special events for OverDrive’s Digipalooza conference.

When he isn’t working, Joe loves to listen to audiobooks and podcasts, get too involved in a craft or DIY project, and (most importantly) spend time with his Boston Terrier, Roscoe!

Libby’s Best Horror Books of 2024 and Exciting App Updates

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Join the January Book Club Chat (How to Read a Book by Monica Wood)

Professional Book Nerds Podcast

Get the Most Out of the Libby App (Podcast Episode)

Libby App

How The StoryGraph Can Enhance Your Reading Life (Podcast Episode)

Jackal by Erin E Adams

The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

Pounded In The Butt By My Own Butt by Chuck Tingle

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

Beholder by Ryan La Sala

Clay McLeod Chapman

Cackle by Rachel Harrison

The Return by Rachel Harrison

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

One’s Company by Ashley Hutson

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

The Strangers

Coup de Grace by Sofia Ajram

Kanopy

A24

A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons

Monstrillo by Gerardo Samano Cordova

Tomie by Junji Ito

Longlegs

Lisa Frankenstein

Letterboxd App

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Uncover the Agatha Christie beginner’s guide with Victoria from The Reader’s Couch! Explore her best-underrated gems and find new modern authors like Christie.

Deep dive into Agatha Christie’s legacy with Victoria Wood from The Reader’s Couch podcast! In this episode of the All-Star Book Influencer Series, we uncover what makes Christie’s mysteries so enduring, why her storytelling resonates across generations, and how contemporary authors like Sophie Hannah and Louise Penny have taken cues from her genius.

Takeaways include:

• Victoria’s introduction to Christie through The Body in the Library.
• Christie’s masterful use of red herrings in stories like And Then There Were None.
• Underrated gems like Crooked House that deserve the spotlight.
• The timeless appeal of the universal themes in Christie’s work.

We also discuss how personal connections to literature enhance our reading experiences from other well-known authors and the evolution of Christie’s legacy through modern adaptations.

BONUS CONTENT: Be sure to check out Victoria’s article, “Beginner’s Guide to Agatha Christie Books,” which helps new readers explore Poirot, Miss Marple, and her standalone novels.

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.

The Best Agatha Christie Books Deep Dive Podcast

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The Reader’s Couch Podcast

Bibliolifestyle’s Booktube Channel

Bibliolifestyle

Gateway to Literary Fiction Books With Tina from Book Talk, etc Episode

Book Talk, etc. Podcast

Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

Salem’s Lot

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hildebrand

The Perfect Couple

Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman

Lady in the Lake

Disclaimer by Renee Knight

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Letterboxd app

Dead in Long Beach, California by Venita Blackburn

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie & Sophie Hannah

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 

The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie 

A Pocketful of Rye by Agatha Christie 

Crooked House by Agatha Christie

The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie 

Conclave

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Dive into the world of literary fiction books with Tina from Book Talk, etc. Discover her top 5 book recommendations for readers and why she loves the genre.

I’m so excited to launch our new All-Star Book Influencer series with our first guest, Tina from Book Talk, etc., who joins the show to offer our listeners her top recommendations for the best literary fiction novels.

What Can You Expect From the All-Star Book Influencer Series?

The All-Star Book Influencers Series will spotlight conversations with influential figures in the book world, from bookstagrammers and booktubers to podcast hosts and reading community leaders. Each of our upcoming guests has chosen their dream topic to discuss on our show.

Here’s what you can come to expect in the months ahead:

• Diverse Perspectives: Each guest will bring their unique take on reading, from curating lists that challenge our norms to reviving under-the-radar titles that deserve a second glance.
• Fresh Recommendations: We’ll cover everything from contemporary must-reads to cozy classics, ensuring our conversations remain as varied and engaging as your tastes.
• Actionable Inspiration: Get ready for book talk that goes beyond the pages—these episodes will help you consider why you read what you do and how to open new pathways to reading more, reading diversely, and making your reading life more intentional.

Today, we define what we think makes a great literary fiction book, whether novels need satisfying endings to be favorites, and share Tina’s top five recommendations for beginning a literary fiction reading journey.

We also discover more of her behind-the-scenes content creation process, including her experiences in the podcasting world, her transition to BookTube, and what she has learned about the importance of authenticity in content creation.

Don’t miss this week’s bonus book list featuring 15 literary fiction books perfect for escaping this reading season. This curated list includes both Tina’s favorites and mine to kickstart your new reading journey.

Meet Tina

Tina Books is a bookish content creator and book podcaster. She is a self-proclaimed book pusher with a passion for new releases who focuses on mystery/thriller, literary fiction, horror, contemporary fiction, and memoir. Tina cohosts Book Talk, etc., a weekly book recommendation podcast. She can be found on Instagram and TikTok at TBR, etc. She is also finding her way on Booktube, also at TBR, etc.  

Gateway to Literary Fiction Books for Your Best Reading Life

Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:

Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BONUS BOOK LIST: 15 Literary Fiction Books For Character-Driven Adventures

Join the November Book Club Chat (This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel)

Book Talk, etc. Podcast

Evenity

The Nonfiction November Challenge You Need

Notion

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

A24 Films

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

The Nickel Boys movie

Kanopy

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

30 Fictional Serial Killer Books to Read Now

The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld

The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld

Amy’s Interview with Rene Denfeld

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