Friday Night Readers: Book Club That Reads Like Gilmore Girls

Julianne Buonocore
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Friday Night Readers is a virtual book club that reads like Gilmore Girls, hosted by Julianne Buonocore, who has run a Rory Gilmore reading challenge since 2021 and wrote the Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls. Fueled by coffee, she helps you read, live, and write like Rory. Subscribe at FridayNightReaders.substack.com to get notified of new episodes and participate in a community that feels like Stars Hollow. fridaynightreaders.substack.com

  1. 1d ago

    📺100+ Books From Season 2 of Gilmore Girls That Scream Team Jess

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit fridaynightreaders.substack.com Welcome to Friday Night Readers, a virtual book club inspired by Gilmore Girls, hosted by Julianne Buonocore, who has run a Rory Gilmore reading challenge since 2021 and wrote the Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls. Fueled by coffee, we help you read, live, and write like Rory. Listen to the podcast on: Substack | Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube Read the full transcript/blog post and subscribe to our Substack community: Books from Season 2 of Gilmore Girls Timestamps: 03:46 Featured Book of the Month: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 06:25 Audible deal for Prime members: For only $0.99/mo for the first 4 months and a $20 credit, you can pick any audiobook title from their unparalleled collection. It auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 4 months, but you can cancel anytime, including before the auto-renewal, meaning you get a handful of audiobooks for practically nothing. The offer ends October 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM PT, so click here now to see if this insanely cheap book deal applies to your account. 08:02 Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom 09:36 Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson 11:23 Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg 12:51 Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens 13:26 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare 14:24 The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. by Washington Irving 15:48 The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand 16:56 Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger 18:13 “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 19:07 Othello by William Shakespeare Advertise: Sponsor Friday Night Readers Follow: Instagram, Threads, Facebook, GoodReads, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, X, Reddit, LinkedIn Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These show notes contain affiliate links through which I earn commissions at no extra cost to you.

    📺100+ Books From Season 2 of Gilmore Girls That Scream Team Jess

  2. Sep 17

    🏫10 Dark Academia Books With That New England Aesthetic

    Welcome to Friday Night Readers, a virtual book club inspired by Gilmore Girls, hosted by Julianne Buonocore, who has run a Rory Gilmore reading challenge since 2021 and wrote the Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls. Fueled by coffee, we help you read, live, and write like Rory. Gilmore Girls is best known for feeling light, but it actually shares many storylines with dark academia books. It all started when Rory was “Puffed” at Chilton, and it continued when she “jumped, Jack” with The Life and Death Brigade at Yale. Rory’s schoolgirl style has that traditional collegiate look, and even Richard’s Connecticut study looks straight out of the Ivy League. So, as we take our Rory Gilmore reading challenge to read the books on Gilmore Girls, let’s explore the dark academia these characters referenced, along with a few more of my personal favorite fall books with this moody aesthetic. Light a fall candle, throw on a Rory Gilmore sweater, and turn these pages this autumn as you rewatch the fall episodes of Gilmore Girls. Listen to the podcast on: Substack | Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube Read the full transcript and subscribe to our Substack community: Dark Academia Books Timestamps: 01:45 What actually makes a book dark academia? 02:50 Audible deal for Prime members 04:28 The Bell Jar 06:25 Brideshead Revisited 07:48 Frankenstein 09:47 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone  (MinaLima edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone; Audible exclusive, full-cast productions) 12:51 The Picture of Dorian Gray  14:29 The Secret History 17:09 If We Were Villains 18:42 Never Let Me Go 20:04 A Separate Peace 21:28 The Witches of Cambridge 24:43 Study Decor Inspired by Richard Gilmore 25:18 Collegiate Style Inspired by Rory Gilmore 25:58 For Paid Subscribers Only: 10 Books That Didn’t Make My Cut Advertise: Sponsor Friday Night Readers Follow: Instagram, Threads, Facebook, GoodReads, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, X, Reddit, LinkedIn Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These show notes contain affiliate links through which I earn commissions at no extra cost to you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fridaynightreaders.substack.com/subscribe

    🏫10 Dark Academia Books With That New England Aesthetic

  3. Sep 11

    🍂10 Books That Feel Like Gilmore Girls According to Superfans

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit fridaynightreaders.substack.com Welcome to Friday Night Readers, a virtual book club inspired by Gilmore Girls, hosted by Julianne Buonocore, who has run a Rory Gilmore reading challenge since 2021 and wrote the Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls. Fueled by coffee, we help you read, live, and write like Rory. Listen to the podcast on: Substack | Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube Read the full transcript and subscribe to our Substack community: Books Like Gilmore Girls Timestamps: 00:27 Meet the Expert Panel of Literary Gilmore Girls Superfans: Jules @ Friday Night Readers and Kristy Woodson Harvey 03:27 Falling for Peachtree Bluff 03:37 Affiliate Partner: New customers can get $5 off your first purchase of $10 or more on PangoBooks with code LITLIFE. 13:24 Nantucket Second Chances 14:55 The One & Only 16:43 Talulah’s Back in Town 17:53 This Book Made Me Think of You 20:19 The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living 20:48 The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn 21:12 If It Makes You Happy 21:52 The Pumpkin Spice Cafe 22:24 Something About September Advertise: Sponsor Friday Night Readers Follow: Instagram, Threads, Facebook, GoodReads, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, X, Reddit, LinkedIn Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These show notes contain affiliate links through which I earn commissions at no extra cost to you.

  4. Sep 4

    😯Lorelai Gilmore Actually Read the Best Books on Gilmore Girls

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit fridaynightreaders.substack.com Welcome to Friday Night Readers, a virtual book club inspired by Gilmore Girls, hosted by Julianne Buonocore, who has run a Rory Gilmore reading challenge since 2021 and wrote the Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls. Fueled by coffee, we help you read, live, and write like Rory. Listen to the podcast on: Substack | Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube Read the full transcript and subscribe to our Substack community: Lorelai Gilmore Reading List Timestamps: 00:22 Intro - Rory Gilmore reading challenge and a Read Like a Gilmore challenge to read the books on Gilmore Girls 04:27 Featured Book of the Month: Macbeth, No Fear edition 05:41 10 Iconic Books Lorelai Read on Gilmore Girls - Deenie by Judy Blume, The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee, et al., I’m With the Band by Pamela Des Barres, Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, Out of Africa by Karen Blixen/Isak Dinesen, Sailing Alone Around the Room by Billy Collins, Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette by Judith Thurman, Wild by Cheryl Strayed 16:27 The Full Lorelai Gilmore Reading List: 136 Verified Books Advertise: Sponsor Friday Night Readers Follow: Instagram, Threads, Facebook, GoodReads, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, X, Reddit, LinkedIn Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These show notes contain affiliate links through which I earn commissions at no extra cost to you.

    😯Lorelai Gilmore Actually Read the Best Books on Gilmore Girls

  5. Aug 14

    🚂Anna Karenina Isn't As Hard As You Think: My Review and Survival Guide

    Welcome to Friday Night Readers, a virtual book club inspired by Gilmore Girls, hosted by Julianne Buonocore, who has run a Rory Gilmore reading challenge since 2021 and wrote the Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls. Fueled by coffee, we help you read, live, and write like Rory. Listen to the podcast on: Substack | Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube Read the full transcript and subscribe to our Substack community: Anna Karenina Book Review Timestamps: 01:10 books set in Europe 03:21 Anna Karenina key details 05:06 Get a good translation: Oprah’s Book Club edition, Audible exclusive audiobook 05:54 Formulate your reading plan. 07:23 Remember the opening line—the most famous quote. 07:57 Master the main characters. 09:17 Learn the basic summary. 09:52 Watch an adaptation. (2012 Keira Knightley adaptation) 10:34 Read a modern retelling. (Anna K by Jenny Lee) 11:40 Pair it with Gilmore Girls. (Want all the books on Gilmore Girls listed by episode? Become a paid subscriber to access my 15-page checklist as a perk or buy my 200-page Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls.) 14:40 Understand the point of it all. 15:22 Know that it’s worth it. Advertise: Sponsor Friday Night Readers Follow: Instagram, Threads, Facebook, GoodReads, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, X, Reddit, LinkedIn Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These show notes contain affiliate links through which I earn commissions at no extra cost to you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fridaynightreaders.substack.com/subscribe

    🚂Anna Karenina Isn't As Hard As You Think: My Review and Survival Guide

  6. Aug 7

    🌍100+ Best Books Set in Europe For Armchair Travel

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit fridaynightreaders.substack.com Welcome to Friday Night Readers, a virtual book club inspired by Gilmore Girls, hosted by Julianne Buonocore, who has run a Rory Gilmore reading challenge since 2021 and wrote the Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls. Fueled by coffee, we help you read, live, and write like Rory. Listen to the podcast on: Substack | Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube Read the full transcript and subscribe to our Substack community: Books Set in Europe Timestamps: 01:36 Elle Reads Library Books. Note that she’s currently running a 60% off sale on annual paid subscriptions for one week just for Friday night readers like you! 04:16 Rory Gilmore reading challenge is to read one book set in Europe from the Gilmore Girls book list. 06:20 Anna Karenina 08:27 Barefoot in Paris 11:34 The Merchant of Venice 14:50 Outlander 19:00 Rebecca 23:01 A Room of One’s Own 25:21 Our TBR Lists: Tender is the Night, Zorba the Greek, Daisy Miller Gigi Advertise: Sponsor Friday Night Readers Follow: Instagram, Threads, Facebook, GoodReads, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, X, Reddit, LinkedIn Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These show notes contain affiliate links through which I earn commissions at no extra cost to you.

    🌍100+ Best Books Set in Europe For Armchair Travel

  7. Jul 24

    🎭5 Shakespearean Tragedies More Unhinged Than Reality TV

    Welcome to Friday Night Readers, a virtual book club inspired by Gilmore Girls, hosted by Julianne Buonocore, who has run a Rory Gilmore reading challenge since 2021 and wrote the Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls. Fueled by coffee, we help you read, live, and write like Rory. Listen to the podcast on: Substack | Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube Read the full transcript and subscribe to our Substack community: Shakespearean Tragedies Timestamps: 03:57 What You Need to Know About Shakespearean Tragedies 06:21 Hamlet 09:20 King Lear 11:51 Macbeth 13:15 Othello 15:15 Romeo & Juliet 19:26 Tips for Reading Shakespeare’s Works (No Fear editions ) Advertise: Sponsor Friday Night Readers Follow: Instagram, Threads, Facebook, GoodReads, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, X, Reddit, LinkedIn Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These show notes contain affiliate links through which I earn commissions at no extra cost to you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fridaynightreaders.substack.com/subscribe

    🎭5 Shakespearean Tragedies More Unhinged Than Reality TV

  8. Jul 17

    💌40 Years of American Girl Doll Books: A Nostalgic Love Letter

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit fridaynightreaders.substack.com Welcome to Friday Night Readers, a virtual book club inspired by Gilmore Girls, hosted by Julianne Buonocore, who has run a Rory Gilmore reading challenge since 2021 and wrote the Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls. Fueled by coffee, we break down the books on the show, so you actually understand what the characters are talking so fast about, and help you read, live, and write like Rory. Listen to the podcast on: Substack | Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube Read the full transcript and subscribe to our Substack community: American Girl Tribute Timestamps: 03:25 My Origin Story: What It Meant Then and Means Now 07:00 On American Girl’s 40th Anniversary: From 1986 to 2026 The Making of American Girl (a swoonworthy coffee table book) An American Girl: How a Billion-Dollar Doll and Its Unlikely Founder Changed Girlhood Forever by Amanda FitzSimons (a nonfiction deep dive) 12:59 Felicity Merriman 15:28 Josefina Montoya 18:12 Kirsten Larson 20:02 Addy Walker 22:25 Samantha Parkington 24:53 Molly McIntire 27:26 Reading Tips for Beginners 28:54 The Impact of American Girl on This Community 33:28 More American Girl Fandom to Explore Samantha: The Next Chapter by Fiona Davis Meg’s Collecting Corner my appearance on her podcast Meg’s Reading Room’s interview with author Valerie Tripp and Meg’s interview with Blake Changnon / The CF Museum of Toys & Collectibles Sydney Rose Paulsen (@5hensandacockatiel) Advertise: Sponsor Friday Night Readers Follow: Instagram, Threads, Facebook, GoodReads, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, X, Reddit, LinkedIn Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These show notes contain affiliate links through which I earn commissions at no extra cost to you.

    💌40 Years of American Girl Doll Books: A Nostalgic Love Letter
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Friday Night Readers is a virtual book club that reads like Gilmore Girls, hosted by Julianne Buonocore, who has run a Rory Gilmore reading challenge since 2021 and wrote the Unofficial Guide to the Books on Gilmore Girls. Fueled by coffee, she helps you read, live, and write like Rory. Subscribe at FridayNightReaders.substack.com to get notified of new episodes and participate in a community that feels like Stars Hollow. fridaynightreaders.substack.com

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