Hot Girls Read Podcast

Julia Yee and Ayesha Mukherjee
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

We're two friends talking about the books that raised us, the authors that changed us, the characters that made us, and everything in between! (Formerly 'Meet Me At the Bookstore')

  1. 5d ago

    The One Where Julia Talks About ‘Paris Untapped’

    We’re turning the spotlight on Julia and learning more about her new print magazine! Also changing careers (from finance to a variety of creative pursuits), she describes her move from NYC to Paris and rediscovering her creative passions. Julia’s journey spans from writing poetry daily to becoming a magazine editor during her masters program and now building a creative business from the ground up. We focus on her latest news: the launch of Paris Untapped! Julia shares about growing on Substack, immersing herself in Parisian culture, and working with local artists to build this debut magazine. Paris Untapped is accessible for English speakers and readers all over the world who are interested in Parisian arts, culture, and gastronomy.

    37 min

  2. May 15

    The One Where We Re-read UGLIES

    S7E4: Some books age better than others…is UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld one of them? With the dystopian genre picking back up in popularity (perhaps due to global politics), we spend this episode with a re-read of Scott Westerfeld’s UGLIES. It’s crazy to think that this book came out almost twenty years ago, and let’s just say that reading it again at 30 was quite the mixed bag experience!  Our deep dive discussion leaves no stone unturned. We delve into the nuances of the UGLIES world, the characters, the plot, our favourite lines, and the immense amount of hoverboarding – and by the end of our chat, you could say we had a new-found appreciation for this middle-school classic. In a time where the pressure to be ‘pretty’ is more demanding than ever, the message at the core of UGLIES hits home no matter your age.

    44 min

  3. Apr 11

    The One Where Ayesha Talks About Literary Agenting

    S7E3: With the spotlight on Ayesha in this episode, we finally get to hear the inside scoop of what literary agenting is like! From advice on changing careers (pivoting from consulting to publishing) and how to become an agent, to answering the question of ‘what exactly do book agents do?’ and giving us a behind the scenes look into the London Book Fair, Ayesha spills some secrets of the world behind the books we read. Importantly, we also get into some of Ayesha’s submission tips – if you have always wondered how it all works, or are an aspiring author or agent, this episode is a must listen!

    54 min

  4. Mar 20

    The One Where We Talk About Bridgerton: season 4 vs. the book

    S7E2: Calling all fans (or haters – we don’t discriminate!) of the Bridgerton-verse! We are diving into the latest season of Netflix’s most popular rompy regency romance, and comparing it to the book it’s based off of, ‘An Offer from a Gentleman’, by Julia Quinn. Since watching (our favorite) season 2 together, with the recent release of season 4, we thought it would be even more fun to read the source material and discuss both book and show!  We start the episode with our thoughts on season 4 – what we liked, didn’t like, and how it stacked relative to previous seasons. Then, we get into the book, noting all the ways it was similar, different, and dare we say, better than the series. If you love a good show vs. book breakdown or simply adore the Bridgerton series, this is an episode you can’t miss!

    40 min

  5. Feb 27

    The One Where We Talk About Our 2026 Goals

    S7E1:And just like that, we have done 6 seasons of the Hot Girls Read podcast! Welcome to our first episode of season 7: the one where we share our 2026 goals. We recorded this episode a couple of days after the start of the lunar near year, and perhaps it’s the action-focused energy of the zodiac (year of the fire horse!) that inspired us to dedicate an episode to our literary hopes and dreams for the year.  From chatting about astrology and Saturn Returns to what the year might hold for us as readers and podcasters, this episode heralds the start of a new year, a new season, and hopefully, lots of brilliant happenings in 2026!

    24 min

  6. 12/13/2025

    The One Where We Talk About Living in a 'Literary Golden Age'

    The big question: are we living in a literary golden age or a post-literate society ???  On this week’s episode we’re doing something a little different to our usual bookish chats, and we’re breaking down a couple of intriguing Substack essays on the combined subject of literature and society. Our primary references include ‘Ignore the pessimists – we are living through a literary golden age’ by Henry Oliver versus ‘The dawn of the post-literate society’ by James Marriott. From the simultaneous (oddly, and apparently) global decrease and increase in reading to the role of screens in the downfall of reading comprehension, we wade through the facts, the arguments, and our own experiences to come to a conclusion about the current state of the literary world. But, we’re also interested to hear what you guys think – tune in and join the debate!

    32 min

  7. 11/26/2025

    The One Where We Talk About Second Pocket First ft. Gregory Grosvenor

    S6 E6: Join us in conversation with Gregory Grosvenor, writer, author, teacher and fellow only child. We talk about Greg’s early inspirations in writing, from growing up in Germany, supportive parents, and an early conviction to write. We then delve into a myriad of topics including Greg’s experience as a creative writing teacher, his past as an alcoholic, and of course, his debut novel, Second Pocket First, full of quirky characters, bucolic Vermont scenery, great outfits, and some good old fashioned burglary.  To learn more about Greg Grosvenor and to purchase Second Pocket First, you can check out his website, and follow him on Instagram.

    37 min

  8. 11/12/2025

    The One Where We Talk About Pitch Craft ft. Laura Goode

    In this episode we talk to Laura Goode, author, essayist, poet, screen writer, and educator, about her latest book, Pitch Craft. Pitch Craft is all about the art of presenting yourself as a person and a writer, but our conversation doesn’t just end there. From talking about the quirks and perks of being an only child to the magic of female friendship, this is a conversation that explores the hidden side of writing – the part which is less about the writing itself than it is about connecting with yourself and the people around you.  To learn more about Laura Goode and to purchase Pitch Craft, you can check out her website, and follow her on Instagram.

    45 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

We're two friends talking about the books that raised us, the authors that changed us, the characters that made us, and everything in between! (Formerly 'Meet Me At the Bookstore')

Information

  • Creator
    Julia Yee and Ayesha Mukherjee
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    84
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Julia Yee and Ayesha Mukherjee
  • Show Website
    Hot Girls Read Podcast