Five or Flop: the Best (and Worst) Historical Fiction Has to Offer

Five or Flop
  • 4.3 (11)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Five or Flop, a podcast for the best (and worst) historical fiction has to offer! Each week, we'll be reading and reviewing a different historical fiction book on a scale from flop to five. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for all the latest updates! Have a book you want us to read? Send us a recommendation: https://forms.gle/1JroxLkK157zpa9N8

  1. 3D AGO

    The Red Tent by Anita Diamant: Jacob and His Twelve Flops

    The end of the season is approaching, so it's Grace and Erin's turn to pick the books! Grace is up first, and we're traveling all the way back to Biblical times with The Red Tent. Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for all the latest updates! Our Season Five Reading Challenge is live on StoryGraph! Find it here: https://rb.gy/2qehsn Want to recommend a book for a future season? Submit the title here: https://forms.gle/1JroxLkK157zpa9N8

    43 min

  2. FEB 10

    The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas: Agnes T. Flop

    This week, we are joined by Jen Traver to discuss The Persian Pickle Club! We chat female friendship, murder, and quilts. All the good stuff! Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for all the latest updates! Our Season Five Reading Challenge is live on StoryGraph! Find it here: https://rb.gy/2qehsn Want to recommend a book for a future season? Submit the title here: https://forms.gle/1JroxLkK157zpa9N8

    45 min

  3. FEB 3

    Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: Frankly, My Dear, I Don't Give a Flop

    Grace's mom has selected a hugely important work of American literature for us to read this week: Gone with the Wind. As Erin reads for the first time and Grace revisits, they both discuss the book's good and bad qualities and whether it is worth our time ninety years later. Is Gone With the Wind Still Relevant Today? by Ann Edelstein Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for all the latest updates! Our Season Five Reading Challenge is live on StoryGraph! Find it here: https://rb.gy/2qehsn Want to recommend a book for a future season? Submit the title here: https://forms.gle/1JroxLkK157zpa9N8

    1h 21m

  4. JAN 27

    The Paper Daughters of Chinatown by Heather B. Moore: A Journey to San Flopcisco

    This week, we're inviting friend and former roommate Spencer to discuss The Paper Daughters of Chinatown! Will this book live up to our expectations? Will there be an implied Magic Treehouse crossover? Who's to say! Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for all the latest updates! Our Season Five Reading Challenge is live on StoryGraph! Find it here: https://rb.gy/2qehsn Want to recommend a book for a future season? Submit the title here: https://forms.gle/1JroxLkK157zpa9N8

    49 min

  5. JAN 20

    A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles: House Arrest at Hotel Flop

    Hannah from our Love in the Time of Cholera episode is back, and we're discussing A Gentleman in Moscow! Will this have a better chance at a five than Love in the Time of Cholera? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for all the latest updates! Our Season Five Reading Challenge is live on StoryGraph! Find it here: https://rb.gy/2qehsn Want to recommend a book for a future season? Submit the title here: https://forms.gle/1JroxLkK157zpa9N8

    49 min

  6. JAN 13

    Circe by Madeline Miller: Exiled to Flop Island

    Jen from Season Four is back, and we're discussing Circe! Now we'll have read both of her books- which do we like more? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for all the latest updates! Our Season Five Reading Challenge is live on StoryGraph! Find it here: https://rb.gy/2qehsn Want to recommend a book for a future season? Submit the title here: https://forms.gle/1JroxLkK157zpa9N8

    50 min

  7. JAN 6

    Brazil-Maru by Karen Tei Yamashita: Floptail Hour

    Santiago and his themed cocktails are back, and we're reading Brazil-Maru by Karen Tei Yamashita! But will the drinks be the best part of the episode? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for all the latest updates! Our Season Five Reading Challenge is live on StoryGraph! Find it here: https://rb.gy/2qehsn Want to recommend a book for a future season? Submit the title here: https://forms.gle/1JroxLkK157zpa9N8

    52 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See: Fishing for Flops

    We're returning to a classic pod author this week, as Grace's friend Kate Weis picks The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See! Will she keep up her streak as Erin's favorite pod author? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for all the latest updates! Our Season Five Reading Challenge is live on StoryGraph! Find it here: https://rb.gy/2qehsn Want to recommend a book for a future season? Submit the title here: https://forms.gle/1JroxLkK157zpa9N8

    49 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Welcome to Five or Flop, a podcast for the best (and worst) historical fiction has to offer! Each week, we'll be reading and reviewing a different historical fiction book on a scale from flop to five. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for all the latest updates! Have a book you want us to read? Send us a recommendation: https://forms.gle/1JroxLkK157zpa9N8

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