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.

3 days ago

September Book Club: Those We Thought We Knew by David Joy

David Joy joins our September Book Club to discuss Those We Thought We Knew, a powerful novel about the fractures and reckonings in contemporary Appalachia. Today, I’m honored to welcome renowned storyteller David Joy to Book Gang for a searching, unflinching conversation about Those We Thought We Knew, our September Book Club selection for the MomAdvice Book Club. David brings sharp honesty and lived experience as he examines the histories, power structures, and personal reckonings that shaped his fifth novel. Together, we explore how the legacy of the South, the responsibilities of storytelling, and the risks of crossing boundaries animate both his work and his life. Those We Thought We Knew plunges us into a North Carolina mountain town wrestling with its past and present after the murder of a young Black artist. Through a chorus of voices—each rendered with nuance and empathy—Joy asks what it means to confront inherited stories, who gets to claim a place, and what’s lost or found when we finally face the truth. In this week’s thought-provoking episode, we discuss: 📚 Writing Across Boundaries: David reflects on the long, winding road to Those We Thought We Knew, the decade the idea simmered, and the moment a real-life encounter cracked open the novel’s heart. We explore how he approached writing across lines of race, gender, and power—what it demands of the writer, what risks it carries, and why vulnerability and humility are at the center of authentic storytelling. 📚 The Power and Responsibility of Perspective: We dig into the process of shaping a novel with six distinct voices, and the growth required to hold so many lives on the page at once. David shares how working with an authenticity reader challenged and deepened his portrayal of characters whose experiences differ from his own, and how constructive critique—not ego—can transform a story. 📚 The Weight of History—Personal and Regional: Our conversation turns to the complexities of Southern identity, the pride and pain of inheritance, and how personal reckonings about race and history make their way from the dinner table to the page. David opens up about confronting family mythologies, the discomfort of unlearning, and the importance of sitting with hard truths. BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list is a deep dive on David Joy—featuring all five of his novels, his memoir, and books for understanding the Appalachian South. Discover more about Joy’s storytelling roots, recommended reads on the region, and more ways to get to know the voices shaping contemporary Southern literature. Meet David Joy A twelfth-generation North Carolinian, David Joy grew up along the Catawba River and has spent the last 22 years in the mountains of Jackson County. Place-driven and deeply rooted to Appalachia, his work has been translated into six languages. In 2023, his debut novel was adapted to film starring Billy Bob Thornton and Robin Wright. Joy is the author of five novels, including Those We Thought We Knew (winner of the 2023 Willie Morris Award and the 2023 Thomas Wolfe Prize), When These Mountains Burn (winner of the 2020 Dashiell Hammett Award), The Line That Held Us (winner of the 2018 Southern Book Prize), The Weight of This World, and Where All Light Tends to Go (Edgar finalist for Best First Novel). His stories and creative nonfiction have appeared in publications including Garden & Gun, The New York Times Magazine, and TIME. He is also the author of the memoir Growing Gills: A Fly Fisherman’s Journey and a coeditor of Gather at the River: Twenty-Five Authors on Fishing. Mentioned in this episode:Gratitude to Our Show Patrons: This week's episode is open to all listeners thanks to generous donations made through Buy Me a Coffee and your community memberships. If you'd like to keep the conversation going, you're invited to join our Patreon Book Club chat on September 24th at 8 PM ET, where we'll dive deeper into spoilers, themes, and reader reactions. Membership is $5 a month, or you can prepay for the year and save 10%. 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) Those We Thought We Knew by David Joy Where All Light Tends to Go by David Joy Sundays With Writers Larry Brown Daniel Woodrell Ron Rash Harry Crews S.A. Cosby Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha When These Mountains Burn by David Joy Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle Sylva, NC Monument David Joy speaks to Jackson County Commissioners Alexander Stephens Marie Cochran Crystal Wilkinson Megan Abbott Laura Lippman Ace Atkins Quinn Colson series 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 David Joy on Instagram or His Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
28 Aug

Single Girls: How Cosmo Magazine Sparked a Cultural Shift

John Searles joins Book Gang to dish on his new novel Single Girls, inspired by Helen Gurley Brown and the women who transformed Cosmopolitan magazine. We welcome John Searles to Book Gang for a heartfelt conversation about his historical fiction novel, Single Girls—a story inspired by Helen Gurley Brown and the trailblazing women behind Cosmopolitan. Drawing on his years as an editor at Cosmo and his deep admiration for Helen, he brings readers behind the scenes of the magazine’s revolutionary 1960s makeover. Together, we explore the mix of nostalgia, ambition, and feminist history that animates this witty, unconventional story of women’s work and self-discovery. Single Girls follows Helen Gurley Brown as she assembles a team of unforgettable women to take on a skeptical publishing world, reshaping Cosmo and, in the process, the lives of millions of single women. Through playful structure, shifting points of view, and the signature Cosmo quizzes and glossaries, John immerses readers in the vibrant, sometimes chaotic world of magazine publishing and female empowerment. In this lively episode, we discuss: 📚 Crafting a Cosmo Experience for a Reader: John shares his experience researching the magazine’s archives, his friendships with real Cosmo editors, and how he crafted a chorus of voices that reflect the era’s joys and challenges. We explore the artistic risks of blending fiction with real-life history, from composite characters to playful narrative forms. 📚 Capturing Helen Gurley Brown’s Legacy: We take a deep look at Helen’s remarkable transformation from a humble, often difficult upbringing—marked by her father’s tragic elevator accident and a mother who constantly criticized her—to becoming a glamorous, influential figure in women’s media. John shares personal anecdotes from his friendship with Helen, exploring how her drive for self-improvement and her resilience in the face of grief and adversity shaped her voice and vision. 📚 The Memorable Audiobook Experience: We explore the creation of the Single Girls audiobook, narrated by Oscar- and Tony-nominated actress Amy Ryan. John shares how their personal connection led to her involvement and describes what it was like to hear his words performed by such a talented storyteller. We discuss the special magic that a gifted narrator can bring to a book, especially one as lively and character-driven as Single Girls. 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 John Searles. Meet John Searles John Searles is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of four novels. His books have been published in over a dozen languages and named “Best of the Year” by The Boston Globe, Entertainment Weekly, and more. A frequent contributor to The New York Times and The Washington Post, John spent two decades as a top editor at Cosmopolitan, first hired by Helen Gurley Brown herself. “Single Girls” is his latest novel—a witty, moving tribute to ambition, resilience, and the legacy of women’s magazines. Today's featured novel is available on store shelves now. Mentioned in this episode: SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast ANNOUNCEMENT: MEET THE FALL SEASON GUESTS (15 NEW AUTHORS COMING TO BOOK GANG) JOIN THE CLASSICS CLUB FOR THE JANE EYRE READALONG: Guidance on Choosing Your Reading Format FREE FALL READING GUIDE: 32 Brilliant Books by Diverse Voices: Your Fall 2026 Reading Guide FREE BOOK LIST: 13 Books About Magazines to Light Up Your Analog Heart Single Girls by John Searles The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe The Group by Mary McCarthy Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann Morris Wilkins, Who Lured Honeymooners to Poconos, Dies at 90 (GIFTED) Francesco Scavullo Brooke Shields doll Isola by Allegra Goodman Ann Hood Not Pretty Enough by Gerri Hirshey Sex and the Single Girl by Helen Gurley Brown Natural Blonde by Liz Smith Elaine Stritch Amy Du Bois Barnett Book Gang Episode Amy Ryan Strange But True by John Searles Strange But True Liberty Leading the People painting by Eugéne Delacroix Library Journal Review Helen Gurley Brown Foundation Connect With Us: Join the Book Gang Patreon Connect with John Searles on Instagram or His Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
21 Aug

Chasing Destiny and the American Dream in Abundance

Author Hafeez Lakhani joins Book Gang to discuss Abundance, a moving novel about an Indian-American Muslim family chasing the complexities of the American dream. I’m delighted to welcome Hafeez Lakhani to Book Gang for a heartfelt conversation about his debut novel, Abundance. Hafeez brings generosity and deep personal insight as he shares the family stories, cultural touchstones, and creative leaps behind this moving portrait of an Indian-American Muslim family. Together, we explore how the concept of naseeb—destiny—shapes both his own life and the emotional heart of the novel. Abundance follows Sakeena, a Miami Dunkin’ owner facing a life-or-death decision, and her family as they navigate her agency and the messy realities of chasing the American dream. Through richly drawn characters and intimate moments, Hafeez invites us to consider what we control, what we inherit, and how generations care for one another. In this week’s warm episode, we discuss: 📚 Breaking the Rules on the Page: Hafeez reflects on the twelve-year journey of writing Abundance, and how his decision to forgo quotation marks and italics was both a deeply considered artistic risk and a way to honor the story’s voice. He shares why he wanted readers to feel swept up in the flow of family conversation and culture, and how this choice invites us into the heart of his characters’ lives. 📚 A Mother’s Illness, a Family’s Story: Hafeez Lakhani opens up about how his own mother’s health crisis—and her powerful belief in naseeb (destiny)—became the spark for Abundance. He shares the emotional journey of witnessing his family’s spectrum of reactions, the year spent caring for his mother, and how those experiences shaped the novel’s heart. 📚 Caregiving’s Tender Full Circle: The conversation turns deeply personal as Hafeez discusses the bittersweet privilege of caring for aging parents. We discuss the novel’s more intimate scenes of bathing, feeding, and comforting mothers, the vulnerability and privilege of these moments, and what it means to return the love that once shaped you. BONUS BOOK LIST: We are celebrating diverse voices this week with my new FREE 2026 Fall Reading Guide. Dig into this book list with 32 Brilliant Books by Diverse Voices: Your Fall 2026 Reading Guide.Patrons can download a printable checklist for their library and access a bonus episode with Hafeez Lakhani. Meet Hafeez Lakhani Hafeez Lakhani was born in Hyderabad, India and raised in suburban South Florida. His fiction and essays have appeared in Crazyhorse, Exposition Review, Salt Hill, Tikkun, The Cortland Review, and The Southern Review, and have garnered fellowships from PEN America and The Center for Fiction. He was twice recognized with a Notable Essay in Best American Essays and twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Abundance is his debut novel and a People Magazine Most Anticipated Book of 2026. Mentioned in this episode: SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast ANNOUNCEMENT: MEET THE FALL SEASON GUESTS (15 NEW AUTHORS COMING TO BOOK GANG) FREE FALL READING GUIDE: 32 Brilliant Books by Diverse Voices: Your Fall 2026 Reading Guide Summer Wrapped : Behind-the-Scenes with the Book Gang Team 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections) The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Abundance by Hafeez Lakhani Counterpoint Press The Lilac People by Milo Todd Panera Sip Club Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg Shawn K. Jain Good People by Patmeena Sabit 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 Hafeez Lakhani on Instagram or His Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
14 Aug

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
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
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
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
17 Jul

With Friends Like You Is This Year’s Must-Read Thriller

Amy Chozick discusses her debut, With Friends Like You—a twisty thriller set in New York that explores friendship, motherhood, and reinvention. Editor’s Note: Today’s episode is marked as explicit. We’re kicking off a truly special Book Gang episode with Amy Chozick, who brings both warmth and wit to the conversation around her fiction debut thriller, With Friends Like You. This intimate story is set in New York City’s hidden corners—a story of friendship, motherhood, and the reinvention that comes after everything changes. Today we explore Amy’s transition from political reporting to penning a propulsive, confessional thriller about the high-wire act of modern motherhood and the secrets that shape our closest friendships. In With Friends Like You, Emily is still reeling from a harrowing birth experience and struggling to find solid ground as a new mother in Manhattan. Missing the woman she was before, she is drawn into a search for her enigmatic former roommate, Daisy. When Daisy reappears with plans for an exclusive wellness center, old wounds are reopened, and the cracks in their friendship threaten to unravel Emily’s fragile world. Together, they create a space for New York moms—complete with IV vitamin infusions, nap rooms, and communal childcare—as they navigate secrets, betrayals, and the longing for connection. With raw honesty and a fiercely contemporary lens, Amy unpacks her real-life inspiration, the transition from journalism to fiction, and the emotional terrain of motherhood, friendship, and ambition. In this juicy conversation, we discuss: 📚 The Writing Journey: Amy shares how the Hollywood Writers Strike became an unusual catalyst for finding the time and headspace to write fiction. We discuss the questions that drove her from political reporting to fiction, the early premise, her path from outline to final draft, and what it’s like to land her first fiction book deal. 📚 Reporting as Inspiration: Amy discloses how many of her journalistic pieces ended up becoming important elements in her story, from the high-rise setting to reporting on Stormy Daniels, which gave her a firsthand look at secrets, power, and reinvention that now pulse through the novel. 📚 New Motherhood and Pelvic Floor Therapy: We delve into the realities of new motherhood and the absence of villages and third space for mothers, why pelvic floor therapy is a crucially under-discussed part of postpartum recovery, and how Amy’s fiction sheds light on the emotional and physical challenges faced by new mothers—topics that deserve more open conversation in both literature and life. 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. Meet Amy Chozick Amy Chozick is a bestselling author, screenwriter, and award-winning journalist who has covered the biggest stories in politics, business, and media for The New York Times. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Chasing Hillary, which was adapted into the HBO Max series The Girls on the Bus. Her writing has appeared in Vogue, Vanity Fair, and more. Amy is currently adapting With Friends Like You into a major motion picture with Fifth Season and Academy Award-winning producer Brad Weston. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. 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) Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung Inside the Creation of Daughters of Shandong with Eve J. Chung (Book Gang Podcast) With Friends Like You by Amy Chozick This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Mosley David Carr Chasing Hillary by Amy Chozick The Girls on the Bus Shark Heart by Emily Habeck Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe Margo’s Got Money Troubles Towers of Secrecy Rosemary’s Baby Somewhere The Big, Controversial Business of The Wing, Explained Panera Sips Club The Bee Sting by Paul Murray Pagebound How the Pagebound App Reinvents Social Reading (Podcast) 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 Chozick on Instagram or Her Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

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.

Creator

Amy Allen Clark
Years Active

2021 - 2026
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175
Rating

Explicit
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