On our special Spring Preview episode, celebrating the most anticipated titles of 2026, New York Times bestselling writer and artist Chanel Miller joins us to discuss The Moon Without Stars (Philomel, Jan. 13). “After her zines launch her into the popular crowd, seventh grader Luna must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to stay there,” Kirkus writes in a starred review of Miller’s latest middle-grade novel. “Genuine and poignant; [The Moon Without Stars] has the makings of a modern classic.” Then our editors recommend some of 2026’s most anticipated titles.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

• 50 Secrets Nobody Tells You in Hollywood by Mike Kimmel
• The Compass Room by Mark James
• Twelve Purposeful Immersions by Jess Barcco
• The Last Wizard by Alex Mizgailo
• Ruled by Fate by Sam Withrow & Amelia Pinkis

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Culture journalist and critic Adam Morgan joins us to discuss A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls: Margaret C. Anderson, Book Bans, and the Fight to Modernize Literature (One Signal, Dec. 9, 2025), which Kirkus calls “a lively biography of a bold woman.” Then our editors recommend their top picks in books for the week.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

• One Ordinary Man: A Novel Based on the True Story of Harry Hopkins by Steve Vesce
• The Real Conversation Jesus Wants Us To Have by Regina V. Cates
• Sammy Goes to the Doctor by Brittany Feria, illus. by Wandson Rocha
• The Angry Skies by Blake Kerr
• On Earth As It Is in Heaven by Joseph Hawke

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On our Best January Books episode, Kirkus’ editors share some of the month’s most highly anticipated titles. Then Alia Hanna Habib joins us to discuss Take It From Me: An Agent’s Guide to Building a Nonfiction Writing Career From Scratch (Pantheon, Jan. 20). Kirkus: “An invaluable resource for aspiring and professional writers alike.”

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

That Kind of Girl by Jacey Bici

Use Your Palabras, Jovita! by Keishia Lee Louis, illus. by Diego Alejandro Escobar Triana

Midnight at Sea by Hoyt Rogers with Artemisia Vento and Frank Báez

Bone of Contention by Jan S. Gephardt

Digital Odyssey by SE Quinn

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Happy New Year, listeners! It’s the Fully Booked Year in Review, featuring editor-in-chief Tom Beer and Kirkus contributing writer Michael Schaub. On this jolly special episode, we take a deep dive into the weird book news of 2025 and reveal the year’s most popular episode.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

Fighting Bullies by William T. Reid, IV

Harlo by Brian Petersen

Bailing Out by Leonard Ruhl

The Nameless Dead by Leta Serafim

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On this special holiday episode, Megan presents her favorite nonfiction interviews of 2025, featuring Edmund White (The Loves of My Life) and Caro De Robertis (So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color).

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

The Zygan Emprise by Y.S. Pascal

Course Over Ground by Bill C. Wilson

Between Wounded and Well by Debra Palmer

Prophets of War by Jack Brown

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On this special holiday episode, Megan presents her favorite fiction interviews of 2025, featuring National Book Award winner Rabih Alameddine (The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)) and National Book Award finalist Karen Russell (The Antidote).

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

French Lessons by Roberta Samuels

Forgiven by Bruce J. Berger

Francisco De Saavedra's American Revolutionary War by James Giesler

Maya Blue by Brenda Coffee

Flight of the Chicxulub by Christopher Flakus

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We conclude our Best Books of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to young adult. First, Libba Bray joins us to discuss Under the Same Stars (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Feb. 4). Then young readers’ editor Laura Simeon highlights some more of the year’s best YA.

Thanks to our sponsors:

• The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. Retivoff
• A Widow’s Fire by Diane Pike Heiler
• Future-Focused Wealth by Melissa Cox

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We’re continuing our Best Books of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to middle grade. First, Adam Gidwitz joins us to discuss Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II (Dutton, February 25). Then young readers’ editors Laura Simeon and Mahnaz Dar discuss more of the year’s best books.

Thanks to our sponsors:

• The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. Retivoff
• Passages by P.K. Edgewater
• Eco Reign by L. Galuppo
• Rom-Com for Dummies by Tom Diggs

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