This week, we’re “obsessed” with creator and debut author of Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lost It, Brooke Averick. First known as her online moniker, “@ladyefron,” Brooke Averick’s socials exploded after she posted a TikTok reading a letter to her older self. Brooke Averick has gone on to accrue thousands of followers, host two podcasts, Brooke and Conner Make a Podcast and Obsessed with Brooke Averick, and is now a published author. Brooke Averick shares her first obsessions, her current crushes, and how writing Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It may have helped her more than therapy.

BOOKS MENTIONED:

The Clique by Lisi Harrison

The Series of Unfortunate Events by Limony Snicket

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Twilight by Suzanne Collins

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

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The hottest book of the year so far isn’t a steamy beach read or a page-turning thriller. It’s a heartbreaking — and empowering — memoir about a divorce. This week, Danielle sits down with Belle Burden to talk about her memoir, “Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage.”

Belle Burden had a picture-perfect life. A husband in finance, three kids, a pristine apartment in Manhattan, and a summer home on Martha’s Vineyard. Then, one day — right at the start of the pandemic — she found out that her husband was having an affair. And the next morning, he tells her he wants out. Out of the house, out of the marriage — even out of custody for their kids.

Belle talks about the upcoming Netflix adaptation of her book, starting over after watching her world as she knew it fell apart, and why she wishes a book like hers had existed long before now.

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Strangers by Belle Burden

Barefoot Contessa by Ina Garten

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday

When the Going Was Good by Graydon Carter

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Heart the Lover by Lily King

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger

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This week, we’re joined by BookTube royalty and queen of reviews Cindy Pham. Now stepping into her author era, she’s here to talk about it all: what’s on her TBR, why she’s drawn to messy, flawed characters, and how years of reviewing books have shaped the way she writes her own.

Cindy also shares the story behind her debut novel, The Secret World of Briar Rose, from first drafting it as a teenager to returning years later with a completely new perspective and a fully developed frontal lobe. Plus, we get into reality TV deep dives, bookish trends she’s loving and side-eyeing, and the hilarious promise of a future rant video about her own main character, because no one is safe, not even her.

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham

That Asian Girl Is a Problem by Rachel Phan (Coming Soon)

Just Between Us by Adeline Kon

Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow

What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo

How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

Book Lovers by Emilty Henry

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

The River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

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This week, we’re back with Emma Brodie, whose second novel, Into The Blue, is April’s Reese’s Book Club Pick - and Emma and Danielle are going down aaaaall the rabbit holes. From what makes a good fandom, to how improv comedy is, in fact, inherently sexy, to the BTS secrets of filming reality TV, their convo is just as lush as Emma’s decade-spanning, sci-fi tinged, “will they, won’t they” romance.

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Into the Blue by Emma Brodie

Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie

Hitmakers by Derrick Thompson

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

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This week, Danielle is chatting with Veronica Roth, who’s fresh off a major announcement: Divergent. Is. Back. The original trilogy has sold over 35 million copies since it debuted 15 years ago. Veronica has been publishing countless novels and short stories ever since, but now she’s ready to revisit the Divergent universe — with a new twist. “The Sixth Faction” is an alternate universe retelling that dares to ask: what if Tris never left Abnegation, and joined Dauntless? Danielle and Veronica talk about hot tubs, dystopian fiction, and learning to love your own work in all its imperfections. And don’t worry — Tris and Four will still have a meet-cute.

Books Mentioned:

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth

Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

1984 by George Orwell

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

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This week, Danielle is joined by Alex Aster, the prolific, Romantasy Queen of Booktok. Coming out of 2025, in which she published four novels, Alex is back with Starside, her first foray into adult fiction – and, later this year, Barbie: Dreamscape, a YA retelling of the beloved Mattel doll. Alex and Danielle talk perseverance in publishing, the power of storytelling, and which romantasy tropes give Alex the ick (spoiler: hardly any of them do).

BOOKS MENTIONED:

A Guide to Literary Agents by Robert Lee Brewer

Lightlark Series by Alex Aster

Starside by Alex Aster

Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster

Curse of the Forgotten City by Alex Aster

Summer in the City by Alex Aster

Barbie Dreamscape by Alex Aster

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On this week’s episode, Danielle sits down with Rufi Thorpe, the author of Margo’s Got Money Troubles, the wildly original novel that’s now been adapted into a highly anticipated Apple TV+ series. They talk about the chaos and comedy of motherhood, the reality of being in your twenties with no roadmap, and the power of choosing your own path even when it makes people uncomfortable. Plus, Rufi reveals her delightfully messy writing habits and gives some fun BTS details from the show.

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel

The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver

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This week, Danielle is hanging out in an icon’s closet. And not just any icon – Lisa F*cking Rinna. Fresh off her book tour for her new memoir, You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It, Lisa is here and ready to show up as her full self – silly, joyful and growing — always growing! Lisa takes Danielle behind the scenes of writing her memoir, deep dives into some juuuicy Real Housewives drama – and even devises a little acting role for herself, should, you know, the opportunity arise.

BOOKS MENTIONED:

You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It by Lisa Rinna

Pretty Mess by Ericka Jayne

Believe Me by Yolanda Hadid

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