Book Gang

Amy Allen Clark
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Are you looking for your next book recommendation? This book podcast celebrates debuts, backlist, and under-the-radar book selections. Expand your book stack with these recommendations and look at the book industry behind the scenes with Amy Allen Clark (MomAdvice.com). She shares the microphone with her favorite writers and bookstagrammers to help you have your best reading year ever.

  1. 1 day ago

    Summer Wrapped: Behind the Scenes with the Book Gang Team

    Go behind the scenes with Amy Allen Clark and Symbol as they reveal the untold stories, challenges, and triumphs of producing this year’s Book Gang summer season. This week, we’re opening the curtain on our very first Summer Wrapped: Behind the Scenes episode! Amy and Symbol sit down for a candid, honest conversation about how the Book Gang team built this year’s summer reading season that included eighteen incredible voices. You’ll hear about the careful curation process for selecting each title (and guest!), the unexpected technical hurdles and logistics that go into every episode, and the real-life stories you never hear on-mic—from heartwarming guest moments to personal challenges and family curveballs. We also recap each of our summer author guests, highlighting what made their conversations special and our favorite listener feedback that brought us so much joy. What’s Inside This Summer Wrapped Episode: 📚 Curating the Summer Season: Amy shares how the summer reading guide comes together, from screening dozens of advance copies and weighing reader feedback to mapping out a lineup that balances debuts, backlist gems, and under-the-radar voices. She discusses the existential question of whether summer guides are still needed, the realities of book content overwhelm, and how the team ultimately crafts a list that feels both meaningful and manageable for listeners. 📚 Behind-the-Scenes Minutiae That Might Surprise You: Amy and Symbol pull back the curtain on all the surprising details that made each of the eighteen summer episodes possible. They describe the reality of wrangling unpredictable author tech setups, coordinating with publicists and publishing teams (sometimes through a maze of emails), and building a signature pitch for each of their guests (which Amy practices in some unusual locations) that drives book sales for their featured authors. You’ll find out how her media training guides conversations through a warm, unscripted approach that helps every guest shine on their show day. 📚 A Guest-by-Guest Recap: The team goes through a detailed celebration of every summer guest, spotlighting what made each author and conversation special. Amy and Symbol highlight their most memorable moments, hilarious bloopers, emotional breakthroughs fostered through these stories, and the unique novels that shaped this year's Book Gang community. We indulge in the listener reactions, behind-the-scenes surprises, and favorite off-mic stories that were unforgettable for our team. You can experience an audio surprise Symbol made for Amy that has never been aired before. BONUS BOOK LIST: Patrons will receive a printable featuring the next fifteen voices coming to Book Gang this fall—a sneak peek at the authors and books that will shape our upcoming season (COMING SOON). Join us behind the paywall for this exclusive preview and help keep independent podcasting alive! Meet the Book Gang Team Amy Allen Clark is the host of the Book Gang podcast and founder of MomAdvice.com. Symbol is Book Gang’s behind-the-scenes editor, sound designer, and show notes maestro, dedicated to making each episode shine. Together, they work to curate, produce, and share the best in bookish conversation. Thank you, patrons! You make our work here possible! Mentioned in this episode: SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779 SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections) We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise Single Girls by John Searles With Friends Like You by Amy Chozick Today Show segment Famous Men by Julie Buntin The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman Scandalous Women by Gill Paul A Splintering by Dur e Aziz Amna American Fever by Dur e Aziz Amna Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel Sundays with Writers - Laurie Frankel The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff Land by Maggie O’Farrell Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker The Sign for Home by Blair Fell Harvesting Rosewater by Paria Hassouri The Two Wills by Blair Fell Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell Kia’s Asian Booklist Skin Contact by Elisa Faison Book Lounge by Libby Podcast Now That We Think About It podcast The People We Keep by Allison Larkin Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett Living Single Daughters of Shandong by Eve J Chung Lady X by Molly Fader The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader Little Movements by Laura Morrow Amy’s IG Summer stack book photo The Seekers of Deer Creek by Thao Thai The Half Life by Rachel Beanland City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores. Connect With Us: Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

    Summer Wrapped: Behind the Scenes with the Book Gang Team

  2. 7 Aug

    The Half Life Takes Readers on a Steamy Awakening Abroad

    Author Rachel Beanland discusses The Half Life on Book Gang—a juicy Italian-set novel exploring early marriage and finding oneself in the 1970s. I’m thrilled to welcome Rachel Beanland to Book Gang for an intimate conversation about her newest novel, The Half Life. Rachel brings her trademark honesty and warmth as she shares the personal stories and creative risks behind this lush Mediterranean tale. Together, we dive into her childhood memories, the challenges of writing from a single perspective, and the complex blend of history and self-discovery that makes this novel so unforgettable. The Half Life follows Eileen, a young newlywed,  who moves to the remote Italian island of La Maddalena in the 1970s after marrying a Navy officer. As Eileen  adjusts to the insular world of military life abroad, she finds herself navigating cultural divides, the expectations of marriage, and an unexpected awakening. Against the lush Italian landscape and under the shadow of Cold War politics, Eileen’s journey becomes one of self-discovery and new identity in a place where the past and present collide. In this week’s absorbing episode, we discuss: 📚 Writing from Personal History: Rachel shares how returning to La Maddalena, Italy, where she lived as a child, inspired the setting and emotional core of The Half Life. Her visit brought up powerful feelings, especially as she witnessed the American military presence and reflected on memories of her father. 📚 Point of View & Character Voice: For the first time, Rachel wrote a novel entirely from a single, first-person perspective. She discusses the unique challenges and rewards of embodying Eileen’s voice—a young woman navigating grief and self-discovery—and how her background influenced her approach to creating authentic, intimate narration. 📚 American Exceptionalism & Environmental Reckoning: Rachel and Amy dive into how The Half Life confronts the myth of American exceptionalism through the eyes of Eileen, a young military wife navigating the realities of living abroad. They discuss the hidden environmental costs of Cold War military bases, the erasure of American presence from the Sardinian landscape, and how these forces shape Eileen’s awakening to her own agency and the complex legacy she inherits. BONUS BOOK LIST: Take 10 Unexpected Italian Escapes in your book stack this month. You can browse this list for free. Patrons receive a printable version and a bonus spoiler chat with Rachel as a thank you. us behind the paywall for a printable book list and a bonus spoiler episode with Rachel Beanland! Meet Rachel Beanland Rachel Beanland is the author of the novels, The House Is On Fire, Florence Adler Swims Forever, and The Half Life. Beanland attended the University of South Carolina and earned her MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has taught at the College of William & Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Richmond. Beanland lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her family. The Half Life is available on store shelves now. Mentioned in this episode: NEW BOOK LIST:  10 Unexpected Italian Escapes  (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK) SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779 SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections) The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Half Life by Rachel Beanland Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland Christina Baker Kline - The Foursome podcast A Crash Course in Gothic Fiction with Erin Crosby Eckstine Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores. Connect With Us: Join the Book Gang Patreon Connect with Rachel Beanland on Instagram or Her Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

    The Half Life Takes Readers on a Steamy Awakening Abroad

  3. 31 Jul

    The Seekers of Deer Creek: When the Story Matters More Than the Hook

    Thao Thai returns to Book Gang with The Seekers of Deer Creek—a lush, moving novel about sisters, art, and the inherited secrets that bind and break families. I’m delighted to welcome Thao Thai back to Book Gang as she takes us behind the scenes of The Seekers of Deer Creek. Thao’s work is immersive, atmospheric, and deeply tender, and her newest novel is a testament to the power of art and family history. Today, we explore Thao’s writing process, the evolution from Banyan Moon to this new work, and her approach to language, research, and the changing landscape of literary fiction. The Seekers of Deer Creek tells the story of two estranged sisters, Calla and Vivi, reunited by their father's passing and an inheritance that could reshape their futures. Their journey is sparked by a mysterious sketch and a journal entry, launching them into a search for family truth that spans Wisconsin, France, and Vietnam. Thao unpacks generational secrets, Vietnamese artistic legacy, and the longing to be seen and understood—inviting us to revisit the stories we inherit and the ones we choose to live. In this week’s fascinating episode, we discuss: 📚 The Writing Journey: Thao reveals how her creative process transformed from debut to sophomore novel—the struggles, surprises, and the freedom she found when she stopped chasing trends and let the story lead her. We talk about patience, perseverance, and learning to trust your instincts (and your editors) when the book wants to become something new. 📚 Art, Inheritance & Storytelling: Discover how emotion and ancestral secrets shape Thao’s fiction, the inspiration behind her art-infused storytelling, and why she believes every object and artifact in a novel must earn its place on the page. We also explore Vietnamese history, generational longing, and the power of art to connect us across time and place. 📚 Restoration & Sisterhood: Step into the delicate, invisible work of art conservation and the equally complex labor of repairing a sister bond. Thao shares why she resists easy villains, how she crafts flawed but deeply lovable characters, and what it means to find beauty in the light that relationship 'lace' lets through. BONUS BOOK LIST: My Top Books of the Year (So Far) – I’m sharing the fifteen books that have wowed me after reading sixty-eight titles through June! Patrons receive a printable list and a sneak peek at two book club picks for our 2027 book club year. Join us behind the paywall for a printable book list and a bonus spoiler episode with Thao Thao!  Meet Thao Thai Thao Thai is the author of Banyan Moon, the July 2023 Read with Jenna title, Barnes & Noble Discover Pick, and Book of the Month selection. Banyan Moon was also selected by booksellers as an IndieNext pick and longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. She was the recipient of the 2024 Ohio Arts Council’s Individual Excellence Award, and her work has been published in the Los Angeles Review of Books, WIRED, Elle, Lit Hub, and other publications. She lives in central Ohio with her husband and daughter. The Seekers of Deer Creek publishes August 4th.   Mentioned in this episode: NEW BOOK LIST: My Top Books of 2026 (So Far) Book List (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK) SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779 SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections) The Half Life by Rachel Beanland People Magazine: I Was Raised as an Only Child and Discovered I Had a Sister When I Was 22  The Seekers of Deer Creek by Thao Thai The Best Debut Novels of 2023 podcast with Thao Thai Madonna’s Met outfit Dorothea Tanning Composition With Figures on a Terrace Banyan Moon by Thao Thai Read with Jenna Service95 Book Club (Dua’s Monthly Reads) Adam & Evie’s Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen Almost Life by Kiran Millwood Hargrave Claire Keegan Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Sweet Valley High Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary Quyen Ngo Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.   Connect With Us: Join the Book Gang Patreon Connect with Thao Thai on Instagram or Her Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

    The Seekers of Deer Creek: When the Story Matters More Than the Hook

  4. 24 Jul

    If I Ruled the World and the Wild Ride of 90s Magazine Life

    Amy DuBois Barnett draws on her editorial career for If I Ruled the World—a vibrant novel of magazine publishing, ambition, and reinvention in 1990s media. I’m honored to warmly welcome Amy DuBois Barnett to Book Gang as she shares the story behind her debut novel, If I Ruled the World. Drawing on her groundbreaking career in magazine publishing, Amy brings us a vibrant, sometimes gritty, and always honest exploration of ambition, identity, and reinvention in 1990s print media. Today we explore Amy’s decades-in-the-making fiction journey, what inspired her to finally tell this story, and how her editorial background influenced her process as a novelist. If I Ruled the World follows Nikki, a thirty-something woman navigating the cutthroat world of late-90s print media after bravely reporting a powerful colleague’s misconduct. As she hustles to revive a struggling hip hop magazine, Nikki’s journey is marked by career chaos, personal missteps, and a search for her true voice amid shifting alliances and expectations. With wit and candor, Amy unpacks the complexities of identity, representation, and legacy as she crafts a story that is both an insider’s look at magazine publishing and a deeply personal tale of transformation. In this week’s fascinating episode, we discuss: 📚 The Writing Journey: Amy shares how she made history as the first Black woman to helm a major mainstream U.S. magazine and how decades in editorial shaped her fiction. We discuss why writing this debut novel in her fifties was the perfect moment,  and celebrating that long-awaited “yes.” 📚 Representation & Identity: We talk about Amy’s trailblazing career and how this experience shaped her leadership, and what she borrowed from her own life to bring Nikki’s biggest triumphs and trials to life in this story. 📚 Building a Magazine: Step inside the electric world of 1990s magazine publishing—where iconic covers were gambles, backstage drama was real, and Nikki’s story was born from Amy’s lived experience. Amy shares a high-stakes celebrity cover story that blurred the lines between art and life, plus her perspective on the reckoning in hip hop she witnessed firsthand in this #metoo moment. FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 13 Books About Magazines to Light Up Your Analog Heart— This curated list dives into the page-turning, messy, and fascinating world of magazines, both real and fictional. Patrons will receive a printable book list and an exclusive spoiler-filled episode with Amy DuBois Barnett! Meet Amy DuBois Barnett Amy DuBois Barnett is an award-winning media executive and author who earned national acclaim as editor in chief of Honey, Ebony, and Teen People—where she made history as the first Black woman to helm a major mainstream U.S. magazine—and as deputy editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar. She has held senior leadership roles at Paramount, Hearst, Disney, Time Inc., and several independently owned brands. Barnett has a BA from Brown University and an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. She resides in Los Angeles. If I Ruled the World is her debut novel and is available on store shelves now. Mentioned in this episode: NEW BOOK LIST: 13 Books About Magazines to Light Up Your Analog Heart (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK) SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779 SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections) Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung Inside the Creation of Daughters of Shandong with Eve J. Chung (Book Gang Podcast) If I Ruled the World Playlist If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores. Connect With Us: Join the Book Gang Patreon Connect with Amy DuBois Barnett on Instagram or Her Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

    If I Ruled the World and the Wild Ride of 90s Magazine Life

  5. 3 Jul

    July Book Club: Daughters of Shandong

    Eve J. Chung joins our July Book Club to discuss Daughters of Shandong, a gripping historical novel of survival, resilience, and family during wartime China. This week on Book Gang, Eve J. Chung—acclaimed human rights lawyer, debut novelist, and storyteller inspired by her family's extraordinary past—joins us for a riveting conversation about her powerful historical novel,  Daughters of Shandong. Eve brings a deep personal history to the page, exploring the cost of survival during China's 1948 Communist Revolution. In this episode, we’ll talk about turning family history into fiction, the ethical challenges of writing about trauma, and how Eve researched and structured a sweeping historical novel that moves with the urgency of a thriller. Eve reveals how her experience as a human rights lawyer challenged her writing process, the unique struggles of portraying women who both resist and uphold patriarchy, and the responsibility of illuminating lesser-known history for the next generation of readers. In this thought-provoking conversation, we discuss: 📚 Transforming Family History Into Fiction: Eve shares the moment her grandmother’s story took hold of her imagination, how she balanced fact and invention, and the research process that brought 1948 China to life. She discusses the challenges and responsibilities of fictionalizing family trauma and how she honored her relatives’ experiences while protecting their privacy. 📚 Writing Women, Power, and Patriarchy: Eve explores her approach to portraying women who both reinforce and resist patriarchal systems, including complex characters like Hai’s grandmother. She explains the importance of showing both oppression and agency within one household, and how her background in human rights law shaped her understanding of these dynamics. 📚 Illuminating Hidden History: Eve discusses the little-known historical events that inspired Daughters of Shandong, her strategies for bringing lesser-documented moments to life, and the balance between emotional intensity and reader accessibility—especially in the book’s most harrowing scenes. 📚 FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: To celebrate Eve's book, I have created a companion book list with a rather unique subgenre that I love: 21 Books About Walks.  I have gathered books where the journey on foot is the story's engine, including my all-time favorites and a few new releases I can't wait to read. You can browse the full list for free on Patreon! Patrons will receive weekly printable checklists, five hidden gem titles, and a bonus spoiler episode with Eve. Meet Eve J. Chung Eve J. Chung is a Taiwanese American lawyer and women’s human rights specialist. She has worked on a range of issues, including torture, sexual violence, contemporary forms of slavery, and discriminatory legislation. Her writing is inspired by social justice movements and the continued struggle for equality and fundamental freedoms worldwide. She currently lives in New York with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Daughters of Shandong is her debut novel and is available on store shelves now. Mentioned in this episode: NEW BOOK LIST:: 21 Incredible Books About Walks- Take a long walk through fiction and nonfiction today! (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK) SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations): http://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779 SUPPORT OUR FAMILY: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections) Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung Daughters of Shandong with Eve Chung on Reflecting History Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.   Connect With Us: Join the Book Gang Patreon Connect with Eve J. Chung on Instagram or Her Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

    July Book Club: Daughters of Shandong

  6. 12 Jun

    Next of Kin: Mastering Tension in Legal Thrillers with Kia Abdullah

    Kia Abdullah joins Book Gang to discuss Next of Kin, her gripping backlist thriller about sisterhood laced with a high-stakes courtroom drama you won’t forget. This week on Book Gang, we’re joined by Kia Abdullah, award-winning novelist and founder of Asian Booklist, for a deeply engaging conversation about her acclaimed thriller Next of Kin. We’ll dig into Kia’s unique journey from a career in tech to her bold work as a full-time author, and explore how her advocacy is changing the landscape for British-Asian writers in publishing. Kia share more behind the art of writing high-stakes suspense, the impact of BookTok on the thriller genre, and the real-life inspirations behind Next of Kin’s unforgettable courtroom drama. Discover the secrets to building authentic tension, crafting twisty plots, and what she hopes readers will take away from her exploration of sisterhood, responsibility, and the complexities of motherhood. In this informative conversation, we discuss: 📚 The Writing Journey & Bold Storytelling: From a background in computer science and tech to full-time novelist, Kia shares what gave her the courage to pursue writing and how she built a career tackling controversial themes. Her reflections on confidence, resilience, and the impact of BookTok on her work offer deep insight into her evolution as a thriller writer. 📚 Crafting High-Stakes Suspense (Spoiler-Free): Kia discusses how she uses backstory, emotional stakes, and authentic courtroom drama to build suspense in Next of Kin. From the novel’s powerful opening to its exploration of sisterhood, motherhood, and responsibility, she shares her approach to writing tension-filled, thought-provoking crime fiction. 📚 Amplifying British-Asian Voices: Kia Abdullah founded Asian Booklist to spotlight British-Asian authors who are often underrepresented in publishing. Through this initiative, she’s opening doors for new and established writers, creating a much-needed space for authentic stories and diverse perspectives to reach wider audiences. 📚 BONUS FREE WEEKLY BOOK LIST: 16 Legal Thriller Books to Read Now Discover 16 Books 16 Legal Thrillers to add to your book stack. Prepare for high-stakes courtroom drama, fascinating true crime, and the kind of page-turning suspense that keeps you up way past your bedtime. Patrons receive a printable book list, five bonus book ideas, and a bonus spoiler chat with Kia in their inbox today. Meet Kia Abdullah Kia Abdullah is an author and journalist from London. Her novels include Take It Back (a Guardian and Telegraph thriller of the year), Truth Be Told (shortlisted for a Diverse Book Award), Next of Kin (longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award) and Those People Next Door (a Times Bestseller and Waterstones Thriller of the Month). Her new novel, What Happens in the Dark, is out now. Kia has won a Diverse Book Award (2022) and a JB Priestley Award for Writers of Promise (2020). She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Times, and the BBC, among others. Next of Kin, this week’s featured selection, is on store shelves now.   Mentioned in this episode: NEW BOOK LIST: 16 Legal Thriller Books to Read Now FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK) NEW: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations) 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections) Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah Take It Back by Kia Abdullah Asian Booklist Substack Brick Lane by Monica Ali Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine Zubs Uncovered Truth Be Told by Kia Abdullah Books with Good Plot Twists That Will Make Your Jaw Drop The Chain by Adrian McKinty Stealing Hollywood by Alexandra Sokoloff The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr What Happens in the Dark by Kia Abdullah The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas Elizabeth Day Royal Society of Literature Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores. Connect With Us: Join the Book Gang Patreon Connect with Kia Abdullah on Instagram or Her Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

    Next of Kin: Mastering Tension in Legal Thrillers with Kia Abdullah

  7. 5 Jun

    Saoirse Takes Readers On a Journey Through 1990s Ireland

    Travel to Ireland with Charleen Hurtubise to celebrate her US debut, Saoirse—a moving story of art, memory, and reinvention set on Donegal’s wild Atlantic coast. Book Gang welcomes Charleen Hurtubise, novelist and artist, to discuss her sweeping and quietly powerful novel, Saoirse. Charleen draws on her transatlantic life, her creative work as an artist, and her deep ties to Ireland and Michigan to bring this immersive story to life. Set in 1990s Donegal, this immersive novel follows Saoirse Byrne, an artist whose life is transformed when she unexpectedly wins the prestigious Margaret Dowling Art Prize. As fame threatens to uncover long-buried secrets from her Michigan past, Saoirse must navigate a world shaped by Ireland’s social and political change, Catholic influence, and her own search for freedom. In this layered and moving conversation, we discuss: 📚 Transatlantic Inspirations & Setting: Discover how Charleen Hurtubise’s own transatlantic life—growing up in Michigan, and building a creative career in Ireland—informs the layered world of Saoirse, and why Donegal’s landscape and history were essential to her story of reinvention. 📚 The Art and Craft of Storytelling: Go behind the scenes of Charleen’s writing process, from the novel’s earliest inspirations in true stories of hidden identities to the painstaking assembly of Saoirse’s “literary jigsaw”—a narrative woven from memory, visual art, and the secrets of the past. Learn how her background as both an artist and a writer shaped the novel’s unique structure. 📚 1990s Ireland: Explore the complex realities of 1990s Ireland for women—where issues of freedom, social change, and Catholic influence collide—and how Charleen uses Saoirse’s journey, her art, and her relationships to examine what it truly means to find autonomy, belonging, and a sense of home.   📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST: 23 Books About the 1990s Discover 23 Books About the 1990s with today’s NEW book list! From literary mysteries and coming-of-age gems to memoirs and multigenerational sagas, this collection celebrates the books that capture the decade’s energy, anxieties, and hopes. Browse for free, friends! Patrons will receive a printable book list and a bonus spoiler episode with Charleen. Meet Charleen Hurtubise Charleen Hurtubise is a novelist and artist. She is the author of The Polite Act of Drowning, published in Ireland and the UK in 2023. Saoirse is her US debut. She holds an M.Sc. from Trinity College Dublin and an MFA in creative writing from University College Dublin, where she has facilitated creative writing seminars. The sixth sister in a family of nine, she spent much of her childhood in Michigan, her early adult years in Boston, and has now lived half of her life in Ireland, which is home. Though she lives in Dublin with her Irish family, the pull of Donegal never leaves and continues to influence her drawings and writings, including Saoirse.   Mentioned in this episode: NEW: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations) NEW BOOK LIST: 23 Books About the 19990s to Read Right Now (FREE TO BROWSE ON PATREON THIS WEEK) 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections) Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise Joan Eardley The Polite Act of Drowning by Charleen Hurtubise Pope John Paul II Becomes the First Pope to Visit Ireland  Una Watters Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan Edna O’Brien Book Club Kit for Saoirse Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.   Connect With Us: Join the Book Gang Patreon Connect with Charleen Hurtubise on Instagram or Her Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

    Saoirse Takes Readers On a Journey Through 1990s Ireland

  8. 22 May

    Unpacking Returns & Exchanges with Kayla Rae Whitaker

    Step inside a 1980s Kentucky department store as Kayla Rae Whitaker shares the family secrets and ambition behind her novel Returns & Exchanges. Book Gang welcomes acclaimed author Kayla Rae Whitaker to discuss her much-anticipated new novel, Returns & Exchanges. Whitaker’s immersive storytelling and meticulous research bring the 1980s era and its consumer culture to vibrant life. Set in Kentucky during the 1980s, this sweeping family drama follows Fred and Fran, a couple whose rags-to-riches ascent as department store owners brings both fortune and unexpected turmoil. As their business thrives, the family’s personal lives become increasingly complicated in this messy family saga. Through multiple perspectives and intricate subplots, the novel explores themes of identity, desire, mental health, and the complexities of the American dream in this page-turning story. In this warm and insightful conversation, we discuss: 📚 Inside the Writing Process: It has been nine years since Whitaker’s breathtaking debut, The Animators. We discuss the pressure writers are under to write the next book and why she chose a different timeline for herself. Get insight into Whitaker’s approach to developing memorable characters, managing a sprawling narrative, and the questions she hopes book clubs and readers will debate after finishing Returns & Exchanges. 📚 Recreating 1980s Kentucky: Discover how Kayla Rae Whitaker’s meticulous research brings the sights, sounds, and family dynamics of a 1980s department store empire to life. We discuss how YouTube offered fun, immersive experiences that helped her connect the dots on stocking her store, allowing us to be immersed in the nostalgia of a well-stocked department store. 📚 Ambition, Identity & Queer Desire: Explore how the novel boldly handles themes of ambition, identity, and queer desire, as Whitaker discusses the risks she took to portray a family unraveling under the pressure of success and the true love story at the center of this moving novel. As an English teacher, she brings incredible examples of books she sees in conversation with her novel. 📚 BONUS WEEKLY BOOK LIST: Books About Malls and Retail Stores Discover 22 must-read books about malls and stores where retail locations take center stage in their stories. Patrons receive a printable checklist and a bonus spoiler chat with Kayla Rae Whitaker, streaming today. Meet Kayla Whitaker Kayla Rae Whitaker’s work has been published in The Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed, Electric Literature, and others. Her first novel, The Animators, was named a best book of 2017 by Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Kirkus, and BookPage. Her second novel, Returns and Exchanges, published by Random House, is on store shelves now. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and New York University. She writes and teaches in Queens, New York.   Mentioned in this episode: Download Today's Show Transcript NEW: Download the 2026 Summer Reading Guide (57-Pages of Bookish Fun With 70 Tried-and-True Recommendations) NEW BOOK LIST: 22 Books About Malls and Stores to Read Now 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections) Janelle Brown Interview (What Kind of Paradise) Join the May Book Club 4/30 at 8 PM ET (What Kind of Paradise) Returns & Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker Commonwealth by Ann Patchett Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen East of Eden by John Steinbeck King Lear by William Shakespeare Nixonland by Rick Perlstein One’s Company by Ashley Hutson Inside One’s Company: Obsession, Isolation, and Talking with Ashley Hutson The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann Carol Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.   Connect With Us: Join the Book Gang Patreon Connect with Kayla Rae Whitaker on Instagram or Her Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

    Unpacking Returns & Exchanges with Kayla Rae Whitaker
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About

Are you looking for your next book recommendation? This book podcast celebrates debuts, backlist, and under-the-radar book selections. Expand your book stack with these recommendations and look at the book industry behind the scenes with Amy Allen Clark (MomAdvice.com). She shares the microphone with her favorite writers and bookstagrammers to help you have your best reading year ever.

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Allen Clark
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Book Gang

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