Episodes

  • 35. I Hope This Finds You Well
    Aug 29 2024

    James and Melissa discuss Natalie Sue's I Hope This Finds You Well through themes of power, personal growth, and whether or not you should be friends with your coworkers.

    Join us next month for Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth.

    Show more Show less
    49 mins
  • 34b. How to End a Love Story Bonus - The Google Form
    Jul 23 2024
    3 mins
  • 34. How to End a Love Story
    Jul 12 2024

    James and Melissa discuss Yulin Kuang's How to End a Love Story, touching on forgiveness, genre, and how everything is just fanfiction. Notes: trigger warning for suicide of a loved one, and spiciness alert for lots of heterosexual intercourse.

    Join us next month for Natalie Sue's I Hope This Finds You Well.

    Show more Show less
    46 mins
  • 33. Funny Story
    Jun 16 2024

    James and Melissa discuss Emily Henry’s Funny Story through themes of communication, community, and compromise.

    Join us next month for Yulin Kuang's How to End a Love Story (spiciness alert for lots of heterosexual intercourse.)

    Show more Show less
    41 mins
  • 32. The Spirit Bares Its Teeth
    May 26 2024

    James and Melissa discuss Andrew Joseph White’s The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, talking about systems of power, resistance, and the use of violence in this book's (warning!) very graphic imagery.

    Join us next month when we return to lighter themes with Emily Henry's 2024 summer read, Funny Story.

    Show more Show less
    43 mins
  • 31. Once More with Feeling
    Mar 27 2024

    Melissa and James discuss Elissa Sussman’s Once more with Feeling, touching on Broadway, Britney, Barbie, and more.

    Join us next month when we read The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White.

    Meanwhile, check out Melissa’s cameo in the SF Chronicle’s feature on SF’s best karaoke bars. Very on-brand.

    Show more Show less
    51 mins
  • 30. Check & Mate
    Feb 26 2024

    Melissa and James discuss Goodreads Choice Awards Young Adult Fiction winner of 2023, Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood, through themes of caretaking, identities, and genre.

    Join us next month when we read Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman.

    Show more Show less
    44 mins
  • 29. The Woman In Me
    Jan 28 2024

    James and Melissa discuss Britney Spears’ memoir The Woman in Me through themes of power, faith, and connection.

    Join us next month when we read the Goodreads Choice Awards Young Adult Fiction winner of 2023, Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood.

    Show more Show less
    42 mins