The Book Up

Welcome to The Book Up, your thoughtful guide to discovering great books that aren’t on the end cap - but should be.   I’m your host, Verdell Walker, a Harvard MBA who’s blazed a trail at companies like The Wall Street Journal, Goldman Sachs, Scholastic, and Sesame Street. I’m also a Black Southern belle raised by books, and a published writer who knows how stories work. Books are my passion, and my mission is to help you find the stories you'll love to read — and dodge the ones you won't. Whether you're looking for your next great read or just need a trusted source for book recs that actually deliver, you've found your place. Each week, I review a book, and in just 15 minutes, you’ll know whether it belongs at the top of your TBR pile or is destined for a DNF. Think of me as your personal book matchmaker — here to give you book recs that will rock your world, and save you from wasting your time, money, and library holds along the way. Stories bring us together, and there’s always room in my reading nook for everybody. New episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays. Come on in, get cozy, and let me give you The Book Up! Instagram: @thebookuppod YouTube: @TheBookUpPodcast Substack: https://thebookuppod.substack.com/ Shop: The Book Up Bookshop