Episodes

  • 33. Funny Story
    Jun 16 2024

    James and Melissa discuss Emily Henry’s Funny Story through themes of communication, community, and compromise.

    Join us next month for Yulin Kuang's How to End a Love Story (spiciness alert for lots of heterosexual intercourse.)

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    41 mins
  • 32. The Spirit Bares Its Teeth
    May 26 2024

    James and Melissa discuss Andrew Joseph White’s The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, talking about systems of power, resistance, and the use of violence in this book's (warning!) very graphic imagery.

    Join us next month when we return to lighter themes with Emily Henry's 2024 summer read, Funny Story.

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    43 mins
  • 31. Once More with Feeling
    Mar 27 2024

    Melissa and James discuss Elissa Sussman’s Once more with Feeling, touching on Broadway, Britney, Barbie, and more.

    Join us next month when we read The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White.

    Meanwhile, check out Melissa’s cameo in the SF Chronicle’s feature on SF’s best karaoke bars. Very on-brand.

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    51 mins
  • 30. Check & Mate
    Feb 26 2024

    Melissa and James discuss Goodreads Choice Awards Young Adult Fiction winner of 2023, Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood, through themes of caretaking, identities, and genre.

    Join us next month when we read Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman.

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    44 mins
  • 29. The Woman In Me
    Jan 28 2024

    James and Melissa discuss Britney Spears’ memoir The Woman in Me through themes of power, faith, and connection.

    Join us next month when we read the Goodreads Choice Awards Young Adult Fiction winner of 2023, Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood.

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    42 mins
  • 28. 10 Things That Never Happened
    Dec 22 2023

    Melissa and James discuss Alexis Hall’s 10 Things That Never Happened through themes of capitalism, management styles, and nachos.

    Join us next month when we read this year’s hottest memoir, The Woman in Me by Britney Spears.

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    38 mins
  • 27. Yellowface
    Nov 18 2023

    Melissa and James discuss R. F. Kuang's Yellowface through themes of authorship, ambition, and what we owe (or don’t) to our communities.

    Join us next month when we read Alexis Hall’s new holiday romance, 10 Things That Never Happened.

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    47 mins
  • 26. Romantic Comedy
    Aug 20 2023

    James and Melissa discuss Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy through themes of identity, author credibility, and, unfortunately, the Manosphere.

    Join us next month when we read Yellowface by R. F. Kuang.

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    44 mins