371 episodes

We're four bestselling novelists and friends whose common love of reading, writing and independent bookstores bound us together. Now we want to share and celebrate stories—of the books we’ve written, the ones we’re reading now, and the art of writing—with each other and the guest authors we invite to join us. If you love books and are curious about the writing world, you’re in the right place.

Friends & Fiction Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry, Ron Block

    • Arts
    • 4.7 • 174 Ratings

We're four bestselling novelists and friends whose common love of reading, writing and independent bookstores bound us together. Now we want to share and celebrate stories—of the books we’ve written, the ones we’re reading now, and the art of writing—with each other and the guest authors we invite to join us. If you love books and are curious about the writing world, you’re in the right place.

    Friends & Fiction with Emily Giffin

    Friends & Fiction with Emily Giffin

    On this episode, Patti Callahan Henry and Kristy Woodson Harvey welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin to discuss her new novel THE SUMMER PACT in which a group of friends, in the wake of tragedy, make a pact that will cause them to reunite a decade later and embark on a life-changing adventure together. Emily is the author of twelve internationally bestselling novels, including All We Ever Wanted, The Lies That Bind, and Meant to Be. A Chicago native, Emily is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. She practiced litigation at a large Manhattan firm for several years while dreaming of becoming a writer. When her 2004 debut novel Something Borrowed (which was adapted as the 2011 feature film starring Kate Hudson & John Krasinski) became a sensation, Emily vowed never to practice law again. With books translated into 31 languages and more than 12-million copies sold worldwide, Emily has been dubbed a “modern-day Jane Austen” by Vanity Fair and a “dependly down-to-earth storyteller” by the New York Times. She joins us to discuss her latest instant NYT-bestseller, THE SUMMER PACT, which Booklist called “a triumph” in a starred review.
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    • 55 min
    Friends & Fiction with Jamie Brenner

    Friends & Fiction with Jamie Brenner

    On this episode, the Fab Four gather to welcome this month’s F&F Featured Author, Jamie Brenner, to discuss her brand-new book, our July 2024 Pick of the Month, A NOVEL SUMMER, in which a bestselling author finds love and second chances in the stacks of a quaint beach town bookshop. Jamie Brenner is the bestselling author of eight novels including The Forever Summer and Blush. She grew up in suburban Philadelphia on a steady diet of fiction and soap operas, then moved to New York City where she worked in book publishing and fashion. After raising two daughters in Manhattan, Jamie has returned to her hometown and spends her summers visiting the beaches that inspire her novels. Her compulsively readable new book, A NOVEL SUMMER, has been praised as “a rich, satisfying and surprising summer read” by Adriana Trigiani and this “summer’s BIG book that everyone will be raving about” by Kristy Woodson Harvey.
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    • 46 min
    Friends & Fiction with Christina Dodd

    Friends & Fiction with Christina Dodd

    On this episode, Mary Kay Andrews & Ron Block welcome NYT-bestselling author Christina Dodd to discuss her brand-new book A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, a humorous historical update on the Romeo and Juliet story which Susan Mallery has called “a tour de force,” and Kirsitin Hannah has praised as “fun, funny, charming, and absolutely delightful.” Christina Dodd is a perennially bestselling author whose suspense, paranormal, mystery, regency and contemporary romance novels have been translated into 30 languages, have sold more than 15-million copies, and have won numerous awards including the Romance Writers of America RITA and Golden Heart Awards. She joins us from her home in the Pacific Northwest to discuss her new novel, A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, which has been described as "Knives Out meets Bridgerton." This book kicks off a frothy, irreverent, witty new series with an irresistible premise—Romeo and Juliet’s daughter as a clever, rebellious, fiercely independent woman in fair Verona—told from the delightfully engaging point of view of the captivating Rosie Montague herself.
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    • 40 min
    Friends & Fiction with The Killer Author Club

    Friends & Fiction with The Killer Author Club

    On this episode, Patti Callahan Henry, Kristin Harmel & Mary Kay Andrews welcome the three bestselling authors—Heather Gudenkauf, Kimberly Belle & Kaira Rouda—who make up the Killer Author Club, a unique platform for suspense and mystery fans to hear from their favorite authors as they chat about killing—of the fictional kind, of course. Kimberly Belle is a USA Today and internationally bestselling author with over one-million copies sold worldwide whose The Paris Widow came out on June 11th. Kaira Rouda is an award-winning, USA Today, Amazon charts, and internationally bestselling contemporary fiction author whose Under the Palms was released on May 21st. Heather Gudenkauf is the Edgar-nominated, NYT-bestselling author of 10 novels whose Everyone is Watching was released on March 26th. Together they started the Killer Author Club in 2022. Each bi-monthly, half-hour show, airing on Facebook, YouTube & Instagram, features a Killer Author, a Killer Cocktail, and a Killer Giveaway—all in a fun and fast-paced setting. We are excited for this cross-over episode where we deliberately collide our two worlds.
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    • 46 min
    Friends & Fiction with Chris Whitaker

    Friends & Fiction with Chris Whitaker

    On this episode, Patti Callahan Henry & Ron Block welcome the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Chris Whitaker to discuss his newly announced Read with Jenna pick, All the Colors of the Dark, an epic novel about a man fixated on finding a missing woman―and the FBI agent on his tail, who might be even more obsessed than he is. Chris Whitaker is the author of five novels including Tall Oaks, All the Wicked Girls, and The Forevers, as well as the instant New York Times bestselling phenomenon We Begin at the End which was optioned by Disney’s 20th Television and was named a No.1 Indie Next Pick, a Waterstones Thriller of the Month, a Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick, and a GMA Buzz Pick. Chris joins us to discuss his highly-anticipated and super buzz-worthy new novel which Kristin Hannah said kept her “frantically turning the pages and somehow made me cry at the end” and which Bonnie Garmus called “impeccably crafted, deeply emotional, entirely shattering.”
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    • 46 min
    Friends & Fiction Celebrates the Launch of Kristy Woodson Harvey's A HAPPIER LIFE

    Friends & Fiction Celebrates the Launch of Kristy Woodson Harvey's A HAPPIER LIFE

    On this episode, the Fab Four gather to celebrate this month’s F&F Featured Author, the NYT-bestselling author of The Summer of Songbirds and the Peachtree Bluff series, our very own Kristy Woodson Harvey, to discuss her brand-new book, our June 2024 Pick of the Month A HAPPIER LIFE, a tender and touching novel about a young woman who discovers the family she has always longed for when she spends a life-changing summer in North Carolina. Kristy is the NYT-bestselling author of ten novels, including The Wedding Veil, Under the Southern Sky, and the Peachtree Bluff series, which is in development for television with NBC. Her writing has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Southern Living, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, Domino, and O. Henry. Her latest novel, A HAPPIER LIFE, is imbued with “her signature warmth and Southern charm” (E! Online), and has been called “a family mystery wrapped in a love story and a gracious nod to tradition and the people who came before us” by bestselling novelist Annabel Monaghan, and labeled “women’s fiction at its best” in a rave review from Publishers Weekly. The full Fab Four plus Meg & Ron are on-hand to launch this beautiful book in grand F&F fashion on a LIVE show with all the laughs and shenanigans you’ve come to expect.
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    • 1 hr 14 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
174 Ratings

174 Ratings

Jothechick ,

Perfect way to find books to read

I began watching the show at its onset but have switched to listening on a podcast when I drive.
I have been introduced to so many more authors and books the last two years. In addition, I feel as if the Fab Four are my friends.
Next month I will be in Savannah. I plan to eat at Sunday Cafe per MA suggestion and spend a day in Beaufort!
Great job ladies!

Books are my thing ,

So much fun!

I love this podcast! It’s great to catch up with Friends and Fiction episodes while I’m out for a walk or off in the car. These women—whose books I’ve long loved—are so real, down to earth, witty, and insightful. They bring great author guests and ask all the questions! The Writers’ Block segments with Ron are a fascinating addition to hear insiders’ stories from authors and others. Five stars!

Blessed79 ,

Excellent and Fun Podcast

I enjoy this podcast so much! The guests are so interesting and I have learned so much! Thank you for this podcast! One bad thing though…..my TBR is growing by the minute. Lol

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