Book Gang

Ashton Lattimore joins us to discuss Runner, her soapy, escapist historical adventure set on Prohibition-era Martha’s Vineyard, where secrets, danger, and ambition collide.This week on Book Gang, I’m joined by Ashton Lattimore, whose new novel Runner is a standout historical adventure that brings Prohibition-era Martha’s Vineyard to life. Ashton shares the real-life shipwreck that planted the seed for her story, the meticulous research behind her 1920s language and setting, and how she balances soapy drama with hard-hitting history. If you love novels where you learn something new while being swept away by twists and secrets, this episode is for you.In this week’s episode, we discuss:📚 Language, Landmarks, and Lingo: How do you make the Roaring Twenties feel brand new? Ashton shares her process of resurrecting the era with vivid period language, historical landmarks, and the daily rituals that anchor her characters in time and place. Ashton shares her tricks for finding the right word, her favorite hidden gems from the era, and why slipping in “old-timey” lingo and fun facts is more than historical window dressing.📚 The Real Black History Behind Runner: Discover how a mysterious 1923 shipwreck off Martha’s Vineyard inspired Ashton Lattimore’s riveting tale. Ashton takes us into the island's lesser-known Black maritime history, revealing a world where whalers, fishermen, and smugglers navigated not just the perils of the sea, but also racial boundaries, discrimination, and the urgent need for community survival.📚 Class, Crime, and Complicated Women: Runner is more than a story about rumrunners—it’s a sharp exploration of class, crime, and what it took for Black women to survive and thrive in the 1920s. We dig into the novel’s rich cast: from Lena, risking everything to save her family, to Dee, balancing privilege and vulnerability, to matriarchs wrestling with their own choices and regrets. Ashton opens up about navigating the tensions between Boston’s Black elite and the working-class locals.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list isUncorking 18 Prohibition Books— A Toast to Bookish Bathtub Gin—books full of secrets, danger, and unforgettable characters chasing dreams in the Roaring Twenties. Patrons of the show will receive a printable checklist to take to their local library and a bonus spoiler episode with Ashton Lattimore.Meet Ashton LattimoreAshton Lattimore is an award-winning author, journalist, and former lawyer. Her debut novel, All We Were Promised, was a Book of the Month Club pick, a Washington Post and NPR Best Book of 2024, and one of People magazine’s Best New Books for April 2024. Lattimore also received the First Novelist Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Prism, The Preamble, Slate, CNN, Essence, and elsewhere. She’s a native of New Jersey, where she lives with her husband and two sons.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)BOOK CLUB PODCAST FOR SEPTEMBER: DAVID JOY INTERVIEW (THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW)FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: Uncorking 18 Prohibition Books— A Toast to Bookish Bathtub GinRunner by Ashton LattimoreAll We Were Promised by Ashton LattimoreJohn Dwight shipwreckOxford English Dictionary Historical ThesaurusShearer CottageHighland BeachAshton’s InstaCaptain William MartinMaud Cuney HareThe Quarter Queen by Kayla HardyMartha’s Vineyard Black Book FestivalBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Ashton Lattimore on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

Julie Buntin joins us to discuss Famous Men, a literary page-turner about a young woman’s struggle with power and identity during her college years.This week on Book Gang, we’re joined by Julie Buntin, whose new novel Famous Men plunges us into the heart of literary ambition, tangled mentorships, and the shadows that linger from girlhood into adulthood. Through candid storytelling and sharp insight, Julie unpacks the inspiration behind her groundbreaking new work, what drew her to the hallowed halls of campus settings, and how she writes into the gray areas of power and agency.Famous Men traces the story of Will, a young woman shaped by family secrets and the gaze of powerful men. As Will moves from an oppressive childhood to the lure of literary circles and a complicated mentorship with a celebrated older writer, Buntin explores the aftermath of exploitation, the murkiness of agency, and the search for meaning in identity. This novel refuses easy answers and invites readers to reckon with the uncomfortable spaces where self-knowledge is finally forged. For readers who want to hear from a writer who prioritizes craft, this episode is for you!In this week’s episode, we discuss:📚 Writing Through Life’s Upheavals: Julie opens up about the nine-year journey between her debut and Famous Men, reflecting on how motherhood, shifting priorities, and the realities of publishing shaped her creative process. She discusses the challenges of returning to a manuscript after life-changing events, and how the evolving literary landscape—less media coverage, more grassroots reader communities—has transformed what it means to connect with an audience.📚 The Power of Setting: Julie reflects on why campus novels—and the charged spaces of creative writing programs—continue to fascinate her as both writer and reader. She shares what’s unique about academic environments, how they incubate both ambition and vulnerability, and why they’re the perfect crucible for stories about coming of age and questionable mentorships.📚 Power, Vulnerability, and Retrospective Voice: At Famous Men’s core is Will—a narrator whose sharp self-awareness is complicated by the forces that shape, trap, and sometimes free her. Julie discusses the delicate craft of writing a character who is both in control and deeply lost, and how the novel resists simple narratives of victimhood or complicity.BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list offers readers 18 novels set in schools, giving you fresh worlds to explore in academia. I’m astounded by how many new releases have back-to-school energy, and I hope you enjoy browsing these selections. Patrons of the show will receive a printable book list and a bonus spoiler chat with Julie.Meet Julie BuntinJulie Buntin‘s new novel, Famous Men, is out now from Random House. Her debut, Marlena, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, released in ten territories worldwide, and named a best book of the year by over a dozen outlets, including The Washington Post, NPR, and Kirkus Reviews. She is the co-editor of Notes to New Mothers, a collection of dispatches from postpartum life by sixty writers and artists. Previously, Buntin was an editor and director of writing programs at Catapult. Now, she writes and teaches in Ann Arbor, where she is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)BOOK CLUB PODCAST FOR SEPTEMBER: DAVID JOY INTERVIEW (THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW)NEW BOOK LIST: 18 NEW NOVELS SET IN SCHOOLSFamous Men by Julie BuntinMarlena by Julie BuntinNotes to New Mothers by Rebecca Knight & Julie BuntinLucian FreudMeghann StephensonAna Luisa CorriganThe Animators by Kayla Ray WhitakerReturns and Exchanges by Kayla Ray WhitakerThe Good Mother Myth by Nancy Reddy nfMacDowellZuckerman Unbound by Philip RothContrapposto by Dave EggersLet Us Now Praise Famous Men by James Agee & Walker EvansMarion by Leah RowanHalf a Life by Jill CimentConsent by Jill CimentLife with Picasso by Francois Gilot & Carlton LakeThe Woman Upstairs by Claire MessudTrust Exercise by Susan ChoiMy Education by Susan ChoiConnect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Julie Buntin on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

David Joy joins our September Book Club to discuss Those We Thought We Knew, a powerful novel about the fractures and reckonings in contemporary Appalachia.Today, I’m honored to welcome renowned storyteller David Joy to Book Gang for a searching, unflinching conversation about Those We Thought We Knew, our September Book Club selection for the MomAdvice Book Club. David brings sharp honesty and lived experience as he examines the histories, power structures, and personal reckonings that shaped his fifth novel. Together, we explore how the legacy of the South, the responsibilities of storytelling, and the risks of crossing boundaries animate both his work and his life.Those We Thought We Knew plunges us into a North Carolina mountain town wrestling with its past and present after the murder of a young Black artist. Through a chorus of voices—each rendered with nuance and empathy—Joy asks what it means to confront inherited stories, who gets to claim a place, and what’s lost or found when we finally face the truth.In this week’s thought-provoking episode, we discuss:📚 Writing Across Boundaries: David reflects on the long, winding road to Those We Thought We Knew, the decade the idea simmered, and the moment a real-life encounter cracked open the novel’s heart. We explore how he approached writing across lines of race, gender, and power—what it demands of the writer, what risks it carries, and why vulnerability and humility are at the center of authentic storytelling.📚 The Power and Responsibility of Perspective: We dig into the process of shaping a novel with six distinct voices, and the growth required to hold so many lives on the page at once. David shares how working with an authenticity reader challenged and deepened his portrayal of characters whose experiences differ from his own, and how constructive critique—not ego—can transform a story.📚 The Weight of History—Personal and Regional: Our conversation turns to the complexities of Southern identity, the pride and pain of inheritance, and how personal reckonings about race and history make their way from the dinner table to the page. David opens up about confronting family mythologies, the discomfort of unlearning, and the importance of sitting with hard truths.BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list is a deep dive on David Joy—featuring all five of his novels, his memoir, and books for understanding the Appalachian South. Discover more about Joy’s storytelling roots, recommended reads on the region, and more ways to get to know the voices shaping contemporary Southern literature.Meet David JoyA twelfth-generation North Carolinian, David Joy grew up along the Catawba River and has spent the last 22 years in the mountains of Jackson County. Place-driven and deeply rooted to Appalachia, his work has been translated into six languages. In 2023, his debut novel was adapted to film starring Billy Bob Thornton and Robin Wright. Joy is the author of five novels, including Those We Thought We Knew (winner of the 2023 Willie Morris Award and the 2023 Thomas Wolfe Prize), When These Mountains Burn (winner of the 2020 Dashiell Hammett Award), The Line That Held Us (winner of the 2018 Southern Book Prize), The Weight of This World, and Where All Light Tends to Go (Edgar finalist for Best First Novel). His stories and creative nonfiction have appeared in publications including Garden & Gun, The New York Times Magazine, and TIME. He is also the author of the memoir Growing Gills: A Fly Fisherman’s Journey and a coeditor of Gather at the River: Twenty-Five Authors on Fishing.Mentioned in this episode:Gratitude to Our Show Patrons: This week's episode is open to all listeners thanks to generous donations made through Buy Me a Coffee and your community memberships. If you'd like to keep the conversation going, you're invited to join our Patreon Book Club chat on September 24th at 8 PM ET, where we'll dive deeper into spoilers, themes, and reader reactions. Membership is $5 a month, or you can prepay for the year and save 10%.SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)Those We Thought We Knew by David JoyWhere All Light Tends to Go by David JoySundays With WritersLarry BrownDaniel WoodrellRon RashHarry CrewsS.A. CosbyYour House Will Pay by Steph ChaWhen These Mountains Burn by David JoyAnnette Saunooke ClapsaddleSylva, NC MonumentDavid Joy speaks to Jackson County CommissionersAlexander StephensMarie CochranCrystal WilkinsonMegan AbbottLaura LippmanAce AtkinsQuinn Colson seriesBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with David Joy on Instagram or His WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter

John Searles joins Book Gang to dish on his new novel Single Girls, inspired by Helen Gurley Brown and the women who transformed Cosmopolitan magazine. We welcome John Searles to Book Gang for a heartfelt conversation about his historical fiction novel, Single Girls—a story inspired by Helen Gurley Brown and the trailblazing women behind Cosmopolitan. Drawing on his years as an editor at Cosmo and his deep admiration for Helen, he brings readers behind the scenes of the magazine’s revolutionary 1960s makeover. Together, we explore the mix of nostalgia, ambition, and feminist history that animates this witty, unconventional story of women’s work and self-discovery. Single Girls follows Helen Gurley Brown as she assembles a team of unforgettable women to take on a skeptical publishing world, reshaping Cosmo and, in the process, the lives of millions of single women. Through playful structure, shifting points of view, and the signature Cosmo quizzes and glossaries, John immerses readers in the vibrant, sometimes chaotic world of magazine publishing and female empowerment. In this lively episode, we discuss: 📚 Crafting a Cosmo Experience for a Reader: John shares his experience researching the magazine’s archives, his friendships with real Cosmo editors, and how he crafted a chorus of voices that reflect the era’s joys and challenges. We explore the artistic risks of blending fiction with real-life history, from composite characters to playful narrative forms. 📚 Capturing Helen Gurley Brown’s Legacy: We take a deep look at Helen’s remarkable transformation from a humble, often difficult upbringing—marked by her father’s tragic elevator accident and a mother who constantly criticized her—to becoming a glamorous, influential figure in women’s media. John shares personal anecdotes from his friendship with Helen, exploring how her drive for self-improvement and her resilience in the face of grief and adversity shaped her voice and vision. 📚 The Memorable Audiobook Experience: We explore the creation of the Single Girls audiobook, narrated by Oscar- and Tony-nominated actress Amy Ryan. John shares how their personal connection led to her involvement and describes what it was like to hear his words performed by such a talented storyteller. We discuss the special magic that a gifted narrator can bring to a book, especially one as lively and character-driven as Single Girls. FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 13 Books About Magazines to Light Up Your Analog Heart— This curated list dives into the page-turning, messy, and fascinating world of magazines, both real and fictional. Patrons will receive a printable book list and an exclusive spoiler-filled episode with John Searles. Meet John Searles John Searles is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of four novels. His books have been published in over a dozen languages and named “Best of the Year” by The Boston Globe, Entertainment Weekly, and more. A frequent contributor to The New York Times and The Washington Post, John spent two decades as a top editor at Cosmopolitan, first hired by Helen Gurley Brown herself. “Single Girls” is his latest novel—a witty, moving tribute to ambition, resilience, and the legacy of women’s magazines. Today's featured novel is available on store shelves now. Mentioned in this episode: SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast ANNOUNCEMENT: MEET THE FALL SEASON GUESTS (15 NEW AUTHORS COMING TO BOOK GANG) JOIN THE  CLASSICS CLUB FOR THE JANE EYRE READALONG: Guidance on Choosing Your Reading Format  FREE FALL READING GUIDE: 32 Brilliant Books by Diverse Voices: Your Fall 2026 Reading Guide FREE BOOK LIST: 13 Books About Magazines to Light Up Your Analog Heart Single Girls by John Searles The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe The Group by Mary McCarthy Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann Morris Wilkins, Who Lured Honeymooners to Poconos, Dies at 90 (GIFTED) Francesco Scavullo Brooke Shields doll Isola by Allegra Goodman Ann Hood Not Pretty Enough by Gerri Hirshey Sex and the Single Girl by Helen Gurley Brown Natural Blonde by Liz Smith Elaine Stritch Amy Du Bois Barnett Book Gang Episode Amy Ryan Strange But True by John Searles Strange But True Liberty Leading the People painting by Eugéne Delacroix Library Journal Review Helen Gurley Brown Foundation Connect With Us: Join the Book Gang Patreon Connect with John Searles on Instagram or His Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter  

Author Hafeez Lakhani joins Book Gang to discuss Abundance, a moving novel about an Indian-American Muslim family chasing the complexities of the American dream. I’m delighted to welcome Hafeez Lakhani to Book Gang for a heartfelt conversation about his debut novel, Abundance. Hafeez brings generosity and deep personal insight as he shares the family stories, cultural touchstones, and creative leaps behind this moving portrait of an Indian-American Muslim family. Together, we explore how the concept of naseeb—destiny—shapes both his own life and the emotional heart of the novel. Abundance follows Sakeena, a Miami Dunkin’ owner facing a life-or-death decision, and her family as they navigate her agency and the messy realities of chasing the American dream. Through richly drawn characters and intimate moments, Hafeez invites us to consider what we control, what we inherit, and how generations care for one another. In this week’s warm episode, we discuss: 📚 Breaking the Rules on the Page: Hafeez reflects on the twelve-year journey of writing Abundance, and how his decision to forgo quotation marks and italics was both a deeply considered artistic risk and a way to honor the story’s voice. He shares why he wanted readers to feel swept up in the flow of family conversation and culture, and how this choice invites us into the heart of his characters’ lives. 📚 A Mother’s Illness, a Family’s Story: Hafeez Lakhani opens up about how his own mother’s health crisis—and her powerful belief in naseeb (destiny)—became the spark for Abundance. He shares the emotional journey of witnessing his family’s spectrum of reactions, the year spent caring for his mother, and how those experiences shaped the novel’s heart. 📚 Caregiving’s Tender Full Circle: The conversation turns deeply personal as Hafeez discusses the bittersweet privilege of caring for aging parents. We discuss the novel’s more intimate scenes of bathing, feeding, and comforting mothers, the vulnerability and privilege of these moments, and what it means to return the love that once shaped you. BONUS BOOK LIST: We are celebrating diverse voices this week with my new FREE 2026 Fall Reading Guide. Dig into this book list with 32 Brilliant Books by Diverse Voices: Your Fall 2026 Reading Guide.Patrons can download a printable checklist for their library and access a bonus episode with Hafeez Lakhani. Meet Hafeez Lakhani Hafeez Lakhani was born in Hyderabad, India and raised in suburban South Florida. His fiction and essays have appeared in Crazyhorse, Exposition Review, Salt Hill, Tikkun, The Cortland Review, and The Southern Review, and have garnered fellowships from PEN America and The Center for Fiction. He was twice recognized with a Notable Essay in Best American Essays and twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Abundance is his debut novel and a People Magazine Most Anticipated Book of 2026. Mentioned in this episode: SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadvice SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast ANNOUNCEMENT: MEET THE FALL SEASON GUESTS (15 NEW AUTHORS COMING TO BOOK GANG) FREE FALL READING GUIDE: 32 Brilliant Books by Diverse Voices: Your Fall 2026 Reading Guide Summer Wrapped : Behind-the-Scenes with the Book Gang Team 2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections) The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Abundance by Hafeez Lakhani Counterpoint Press The Lilac People by Milo Todd Panera Sip Club Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg Shawn K. Jain Good People by Patmeena Sabit Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores. Connect With Us: Join the Book Gang Patreon Connect with Hafeez Lakhani on Instagram or His Website Connect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdvice Get My Happy List Newsletter Get the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter