Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

This week we’re sailing into magical realms and creeping through gothic shadows! First up, Shoshana and Jordy gush about all things fantasy — what makes the genre so enchanting, why we can’t get enough, and a few favorite books to add to your TBR. Then Ashley chats with author Kathleen Kaufman about feminist gothic horror, the Scottish roots behind her novel The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey, and how women’s struggles past and present intertwine. Grab your headphones and let’s get fantastical! Books and Resources Mentioned:  The Lord of the Rings Series by J.R.R. Tolkien   Guilty Pleasures: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel by Laurell K. Hamilton  Lost (TV Series)   Dread Nation by Justina Ireland  Sourdough Or, Lois and Her Adventures in the Underground Market: A Novel by Robin Sloan  Happily Ever After for All podcast  Favorite Books of the Year Podcast  A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel  Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland (The Broken Blades series)  Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron  Enchantra by Kaylie Smith  Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper  River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey   That Time I got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming  A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna  Upon a Burning Throne by Ashok K. Banker   Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker  Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison  The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey by Kathleen Kaufman     Support and follow our guest and hosts!  Follow Shoshana: Storygraph // Instagram // Bluesky  Follow Jordy: Bookworm Reads // Instagram   Follow Ashley: Instagram // Substack Follow Kathleen Kaufman: Instagram Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

MINI POD! This short episode is a quick hit of memoirs by former and current women’s basketball players in celebration of the current WNBA Play-Offs. Books mentioned: They Better Call Me Sugar by Sugar Rodgers (cw: family death and incarceration) Catch a Star by Tamika Catchings Dear Black Girls by A’ja Wilson Love & Justice by Maya Moore Irons and Jonathan Irons (cw: incarceration) You Let Some Girl Beat You? by Ann Meyers Drysdale (cw: miscarriage and family death) My Shot by Elena Delle Donne Hoop Muses by Seimone Augustus and Kate Fagan Inaugural Ballers by Andrew Maraniss Coming Home by Brittney Griner Sum It Up by Pat Summitt Uncommon Favor by Dawn Staley     Support and follow our host! Follow Ashley: Instagram // Substack   Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa   Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.  

The romance genre is what keeps the book industry afloat, but where do you start if you’re not typically a romance reader? Join Renee, Mhairie, and Shoshana for a quick introduction to some of the terms used in the romance genre, plus recommendations for folks who don’t typically read romance. This episode is perfect for readers new to romance, confused by romance, or long-time romance readers looking for some fresh recommendations! Books mentioned: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams  Happy Place by Emily Henry  Psyche and Eros by Lucy McNamara  The Cottage Around the Corner by DL Soria  A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic by J Penna  Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti  Out on the Ice by Kelly Farmer Matzah Ball Surprise by Laura Brown  Big Bad Wolf by Suleikha Snyder  The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake Circe by Madeline Miller Naked Coffee Guy by Crissi Langwell To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins Indigo by Beverly Jenkins Born in Fire by Nora Roberts The Ruin of a Rake by Cat Sebastian A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny by Rebekah Weatherspoon Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha     Resources mentioned: Smart Bitches, Trashy Books book finder Love’s Sweet Arrow (Tinley Park, IL) The Ripped Bodice (Brooklyn and Los Angeles) The Velvet Chapter (Petaluma, CA) Steamy Lit (FL)     Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Renee: Instagram // The StoryGraph Follow Shoshana: Storygraph // Instagram // Bluesky  Follow Mhairie: Instagram // Bluesky   Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

The ‘ber months are here, so that means we’re reading horror. You know we read horror all year round, but we brought in the expert - Mother Horror herself! Tune in to hear Mhairie chat about horror books, women in horror, becoming an accidental author, and good old fashioned vibes reading.   Books mentioned: Feral and Hysterical Mother Horror’s Ultimate Reading Guide to Dark and Disturbing Fiction by Women- Sadie Hartmann  Ghost Story- Peter Straub 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered- Sadie Hartmann Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil- V. E. Schwab This House is Haunted- John Boyne The Doll Factory- Elizabeth Macneal (Audio) The Red Knot- Monique Asher (Audio) Born a Crime- Trevor Noah (Audiobook is an Audible exclusive so we won’t link it, screw you Amazon!) The Bewitching- Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Audio) The Buffalo Hunter Hunter- Stephen Graham Jones (Audio) The Salvage- Anbara Salam  The Hounding- Xenobe Purvis Resources mentioned: Nightworms The StorygraphNoveList Plus (Through your library, search: novelist library) FBC’s Vampires of El Norte discussion  Other authors mentioned: Anne Rice Stephen King John Sandford Patricia Cornwell Agatha ChristieGrady Hendrix Isabel Cañas Alexis Henderson   Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Mhairie: Instagram // Bluesky Mother Horror: Instagram // Nightworms     Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

In this episode, Mhairie, Ashley, and Nox dive into the bold and provocative album art for Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend. The conversation explores the layered imagery, the cultural reception, and how it intersects with themes of power, desire, and kink. From feminist critique to playful banter, the hosts unpack how art can spark dialogue around pleasure, performance, and pushing boundaries.   Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Ashley: Instagram // Substack  Follow Mhairie: Instagram // Bluesky Follow Nox: Instagram // TikTok // Threads     Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

Join hosts Ashley, Mhairie, and Mariquita as they return for the much-anticipated follow-up to their deep dive into Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert. In this episode, the conversation moves beyond pop culture’s impact on women and digs into the murky intersection of porn, commodification, and the market’s influence on sexual agency. Prepare for a thoughtful and candid exploration of what it means to possess—and reclaim—real agency in a world that often packages sex and desire as products.   Books Mentioned:  Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert   Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Ashley: Instagram // Substack  Follow Mhairie: Instagram // Bluesky  Follow Mariquita: Instagram // Threads     Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

Ashley sits down with Jacob Tobia to discuss their book Before They Were Men. Together, they explore why Jacob avoids the phrase “toxic masculinity,” what healthier models of masculinity could look like, and how the different places Jacob has lived have shaped their views on gender and gender nonconformity.   Books Mentioned:  Before They Were Men: Essays on Manhood, Compassion, and What Went Wrong by Jacob Tobia   Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Jacob: Instagram Follow Ashley: Instagram // Substack      Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

Mariquita, Mhairie, and Ashley dive into Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert, unpacking its most thought-provoking themes. In Part I, they explore how reality TV and social media have shaped generational beauty standards, question the pitfalls of so-called “empowerment” movements, and discuss how media literacy can equip the next generation to be both powerful and protected.   Books Mentioned:  Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie Gilbert   Support and follow our hosts! Follow Mariquita: Instagram // Threads Follow Mhairie: Instagram // Bluesky  Follow Ashley: Instagram // Substack        Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa   Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.  

Looking for your next beloved memoir? Rah and Ashley dive into The Hollow Half: A Memoir of Bodies and Borders by Sarah Aziza—a lyrical, layered exploration of queerness, family, conflict, and the passage of time. They unpack how Aziza weaves these themes into a deeply personal yet universally resonant narrative, and why savoring the book slowly made all the difference. Content Warnings: disordered eating, sexual assault, self-harm, social justice conflict    Books Mentioned:  All the Parts We Exile by Roza Nozari Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad     Support and follow our hosts and guest! Follow Ashley: Instagram Follow Rah: Instagram // TikTok // The StoryGraph     Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

Our feminisms contain multitudes. First, Jordy shares some books and tv shows to ingest if you don’t want to watch The Summer I Turned Pretty on Amazon but still want the sweet nostalgic summer vibes. Then, Kenesma chats with Idrys Creed about her forthcoming book 14 Flags, a dystopian novel inspired by current events in the spirit of Octavia Butler.     The Summer I Turned Pretty, minus the Bezos (0:22) Join Jordy for a jam-packed episode of book and TV show recommendations that give The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes without supporting Amazon. If you’re craving summer swoons, emotional drama, and a sprinkle of teen angst (minus the Prime subscription), she’s got you covered with stories full of romance, nostalgia, and self-discovery.    14 Flags with Idrys Creed  (7:06) In this episode, Kenesma sits down with writer Idrys Creed for an intimate conversation about her forthcoming novel, 14 Flags. Set in a near-future America marked by fear, surveillance, and silence, 14 Flags is a political thriller that doubles as a timely mirror to our world. Idrys shares her inspiration for the story, her thoughts on truth-telling in dangerous times, and why she believes resistance can be found in the smallest choices. It’s a powerful preview of a book that’s sure to challenge, provoke, and spark conversation.  If you’d like to be a beta reader for this book, email Idrys at idryscreed@gmail.com and let her know Feminist Book Club sent you!       Books Mentioned:  Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado  Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler  To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han  Every Summer After by Carley Fortune  Happy Place by Emily Henry  The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston  The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther  Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren  Heartstopper by Alice Oseman Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler    TV shows mentioned:  Heartstopper on Netflix  XO, Kitty on Netflix  Never Have I Ever on Netflix  The Sex Lives of College Girls on Max    Movie mentioned:   To All of the Boys I Loved Before on Netflix    Resources:   Happy Place Discussion  The Seven Year Slip Interview          Support and follow our hosts and guest! Follow Jordy: Instagram // TikTok Follow Idrys: Instagram // Substack  Follow Kenesma: Instagram      Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa   Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.    

In today’s two-part episode, you’ll hear some of our contributors take a deep dive into a smattering of library systems across the United States. It’s fascinating to compare and contrast different regions, especially in light of funding threats. Libraries certainly do it right. Then hear from a woman who did it all wrong–Rax King–as she discusses her new book Sloppy.     Libraries Across America (0:22) Join Jordy, Shoshana, and Mariquita as they explore the contrasts between funding and accessibility to teen summer reading lists in urban and rural libraries across the U.S. This episode is packed with insights, book recommendations, questions about equity, and a deep dive into what public libraries really offer their communities.    Doing It All Wrong with Rax King (29:53) Rax King, author of Sloppy Or: Doing It All Wrong, joins Ashley to discuss what it means to do it all wrong. They also discuss themes including privilege, power, and recovery. A great point of note is when Rax discussed what pop culture does well about bad behavior.         Books/Resources Mentioned:  Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust  Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao  A Pho Love Story by Loan Le  The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta  The Last Session by Jasmine Walls   Queen of Tiles by Hanna Alkaf   The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold  A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants by Rebecca E. Hirsch  American Royals by Katharine McGee  Dread Nation by Justina Ireland Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia  A Self-Defense Study Guide for Transwomen & Gender Non-Conforming/Nonbinary AMAB Folks by Transfighters  Our Voice of Fire by Brandi Morin  Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle  If I had Only Told Her by Laura Nowlin  Adventures in the Northwoods by Lois Walfrid Johnson  Sloppy Or Doing It All Wrong by Rax King References Seminole County Public Library Homepage  Orange County Summer Teen Recommendations  Glades County Public Library Homepage  Suffolk County Public Library Homepage  Boston Public Library Summer Reading List for Grades 9-12  Berkshire County Library Homepage  Dixon Public Library Reading List  Dixon Public Library Homepage  Chicago Public Library Homepage  Chicago Public Library Reading List (fiction)  Chicago Public Library Reading List (non-fiction)  Madison County Public Library Homepage  Madison County Public Library Reading List  Louisville Free Public Library Homepage  Louisville Free Public Library Reading List  Multnomah County Public Library Homepage  Multnomah County Public Library – As My Librarian  Josephine Community Library District  Milwaukee County Public Library Homepage  Sawyer County – Sherman and Ruth Weiss Community Library Homepage        Support and follow our hosts and guest! Follow Jordy: Instagram // TikTok Follow Shoshana: Storygraph // Instagram // Bluesky  Follow Mariquita: Instagram // Threads Follow Ashley: Instagram Follow Rax King: Instagram   Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

Mariquita and Kenesma dive into their top 5 favorite books of 2025 (so far—with six months of reading still ahead!). In this spoiler-free conversation, they highlight memorable quotes, unpack recurring themes, and explore what makes each of these reads so unforgettable. From powerful storytelling to characters that linger long after the last page, this chat is a celebration of books that moved, challenged, and inspired them. Whether you're looking for your next great read or just love hearing people geek out about books, this episode is for you.     Books/Resources Mentioned:  Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global by Laura Spinney  So Many Stars: An Oral History of Non-Binary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color by Caro De Robertis  Curious History of Sex by Dr. Kate Lister  Life Hack for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin  Big Girl Small Town by Michelle Gallen  The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett  Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler  This Could be Us by Kennedy Ryan  The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson  Moonrise over New Jessup by Jamila Minnicks  Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan  Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan  Language, Culture, and Identity in St. Martin by Dr. Rhoda Arrindell   14 Flags by Idrys Creed- reach out to Idrys at idryscreed[at]gmail.com to be a Beta Reader        Support and follow our hosts! Follow Mariquita: Instagram // Threads Follow Kenesma: Instagram     Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

We’re continuing our series of our team’s top five books of the year… and we won’t judge one of our contributors for misreading the prompt and sharing her top five books of all time. In fact, it made for an even richer conversation! Join FBC contributors Jordy and Casey as they share their all-time favorite reads and standout books of the year. From thrillers to non-fiction, it's a fun, heartfelt chat for anyone who loves great books, meaningful conversations, and a detour into the Hunger Games universe.     Books/Resources Mentioned:  A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole  The Red Tent by Anita Diamant  The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster  As Long as Grass Grows by Dina Gilio-Whitaker  Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi  The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith  The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner  Enchantra by Kaylie Smith   Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins  The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose        Support and follow our hosts! Follow Jordy: Instagram // TikTok  Follow Casey: Instagram   Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa   Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.  

It’s no surprise that the FBC Team is incredibly well-read across multiple genres, but this episode especially feels like a testament to that! Join Mariquita and Jordy as they discuss righteous vengeance in two young adult novels. Then stick around for Shoshana and Nox’s top five books of 2025 so far to get a taste of haunting yet hopeful books for your TBR.   Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!  (0:22) Mariquita and Jordy are diving into revenge narratives featuring the justifiable rage of teenage girls as they discuss Kill Creatures by Rory Power and Kill the Lax Bro by Charlotte Lillie Balogh. They also touch on some other titles granting women the power to be angry and discuss how all of this is nothing new.    Shoshana and Nox’s top five books of 2025 so far   (20:55) Shoshana and Nox discuss their top five books from the first 5 months of 2025. A brief overview and their thoughts on each title is shared, without spoilers, these include: graphic novels, romance, middle grade, non-fiction, poetry and memoirs.     Books/Resources Mentioned and Recommended:  Kill Creatures by Rory Power  Kill the Lax Bro by Charlotte Lillie Balogh  Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn  When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill  How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent  The Summer I Ate the Rich by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite  Bochica by Carolina Florez-Cerchiaro  Hear Her Howl by Kim DeRose  Something Cheeky by Thien-Kim Lam   The Ribbon Skirt by Cameron Mukwa   Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams  Textbook Defense by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James   Check Please # 1 and Check Please #2 by Ngozi Ukazu   The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki, Translated by Jesse Kirkwood   The Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy  Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist by Jasmin Graham   Falling Back in Love with Being Human: Letters to Lost Souls by Kai Cheng Thom   What Happened to Belén: The Unjust Imprisonment That Sparked a Women's Rights Movement by Ana Elena Correa, Translated by Julia Sanches    Meta stops ex-director from promoting critical memoir  Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS)  The Weather & Climate Livestream    Support and follow our hosts! Follow Jordy: Instagram// TikTok  Follow Mariquita: Instagram // Threads // Bluesky  Follow Shoshana: Storygraph // Instagram // Bluesky  Follow Nox: Instagram // TikTok // Threads // YouTube    This episode is sponsored by I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin by Katy Brent, published by HarperCollins.     Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

We have a double header for you today! First, you’ll hear some of our team’s favorite LGBTQIA+ books from the last few years with diverse recommendations from all different genres. Then, get inspired through an interview with Amber Oliver, author of When the Music Hits, as she shares personal insights on ambition and how she wrote ambition into her novel.    Queerly Beloved (0:22) Join FBC contributors Jordy, Shoshana, and Nox as they celebrate Pride Month with a lively conversation about their favorite queer books. From joyful romances to powerful memoirs and boundary-pushing fiction, it's a heartfelt and fun chat filled with recommendations and love for queer storytelling.    The Notes and Roots of Ambition (9:55) Ashley sits down with Amber Oliver, author of When the Music Hits, to talk about the challenges of being an ambitious woman. Amber shares her personal experience being an ambitious Black woman in the publishing industry and how she wrote ambition into her debut novel.     Books/Resources Mentioned and Recommended:  The Glass Scientist by S. H. Cotugno   Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell  The Fiancee Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur  Triple Sec by TJ Alexander  Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee  River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey  Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker  Out on the Ice by Kelly Farmer  Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack Illustrated by Stevie Lewis (picture book)  A Costume for Charly by C.K. Malone Illustrated by Alejandra Barajas (picture book)  A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns by Tristan Jimerson and Archie Bongiovanni  Edge of Glory by Rachel Spangler  Game Changer by Rachel Reid  A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow  A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske  Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas  Venom and Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliot McLemore  XOXY: A Memoir by Kimberly M. Zieselman  The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith  Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa  This Poison Heart duology by Kalynn Bayron  Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron  Falling Back in Love with Being Human by Kai Cheng Thom  The Guncle by Steven Rowley  The Witches of Thistle Grove series by Lana Harper  When the Music Hits by Amber Oliver       Support and follow our hosts and guest! Follow Amber Oliver: Instagram Follow Ashley: Instagram Follow Jordy: Instagram // TikTok Follow Shoshana: Storygraph // Instagram // Bluesky  Follow Nox: Instagram // TikTok // Threads     Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa   Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.  

Our contributors have paired up to tell one another about their favorite books of the year so far. You’ll hear these segments over the next few weeks! Today, Ashley and Mhairie share their top five of 2025. If you’re a fan of memoirs or horror, this episode is for you.   Books/Resources Mentioned:  Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito The Rules of Fortune by Danielle Prescod Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas Black in Blues by Imani Perry What Hunger by Catherine Dang Matriarch by Tina Knowles   Support and follow our hosts! Follow Mhairie: Instagram // Bluesky  Follow Ashley: Instagram     Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

Our contributors have paired up to tell one another about their favorite books of the year so far. You’ll hear these segments over the next few weeks! Today, Renee and Yasi share their top five of 2025. Then Ashley reflects on this year’s Met Gala, the inspiration behind it, and why it matters.   Renee and Yasi’s Favorite Books of the Year (so far) (0:21) Renee and Yasi share their favorite books they’ve read so far this year, from off-beat contemporary fiction to memoirs of women in tech. You’ll want to get your TBRs ready for this segment!   A Bookmark in Fashion: Literature and This Year’s Met Gala  (21:42) Ashley discusses the book Slaves to Fashion by Monica L. Miller, which inspired this year’s Met Gala theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. She also talks about modern dandies, ways in which literature has inspired Met Gala themes, and better thoughtfulness on criticism of the outfits.     Books/Resources Mentioned:  All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert by Bob the Drag Queen I’m Not Done with You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis Adult’s Play: The Upsides of Growing Up by Yasi Agah Slaves to Fashion by Monica L. Miller     Support and follow our hosts! Follow Renee: Instagram // The StoryGraph Follow Yasi: Instagram // Website // Adult’s Play by Yasi Agah Follow Ashley: Instagram   Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

The International Booker Prize celebrates translated literature from across the world that have been published in the UK or Ireland in the last year. In this episode, Mhairie and Nox split the six shortlisted titles, read them, and share their thoughts with one another. If reading more translated lit is on your bookish bucket list, get your TBRs ready!   Books/Resources Mentioned:  The International Booker Prize Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico Heartlamp by Banu Mushtaq Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre On the Calculation of Volume: Book 1 by Solvej Balle Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami Also translated by Sophie Hughes: The Remainder by Alia Trabucco Zerán Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor   Support and follow our hosts! Follow Mhairie: Instagram // Bluesky  Follow Nox: Instagram // TikTok // Threads     Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa   Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.  

The Amazing Race. Cooking competitions. Bachelor Nation. We touch on a little bit of everything in this episode! Nox, Rah, and Shoshana discuss reality TV’s impact on society, considering questions such as what draws viewers to reality TV? What are the ramifications (positive and negative) to the dominance of reality TV? What is the relationship between viewing reality TV and empathy? Join us on a deep dive into the world of unscripted television.       Books/Resources Mentioned:  Cue the Rising Sun! By Emily Nussbaum  True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us by Danielle J Lindemann  Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth About Guilty Pleasure TV by Jennifer L. Pozner   Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley  Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings  Miss Me with That by Rachel Lindsey  Real Love by Rachel Lindsey   How to Win the Bachelor by Chad Kultgen and Lizzy Pace  Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay - Podcast  Reality TV Has Reshaped Our World, Whether We Like It or Not by Judy Berman - Time Magazine Article       Support and follow our guest and host!  Follow Shoshana: Storygraph // Instagram // Bluesky  Follow Nox: Instagram // TikTok // Threads // YouTube  Follow Rah: Storygraph // Instagram // TikTok  Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

We’re chatting about Black wealth, Black joy, and happy Black endings in today’s episode. Tune in to hear Ashley discuss why she loves the soap opera Beyond the Gates, then stick around for Jordy and Mhairie’s discussion of Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron, a Black, queer retelling of Cinderella.   Beyond the Gates: Wealth and Escapism (0:22) Ashley talks about “Beyond the Gates”, a soap opera about a wealthy Black family in Maryland. She talks about how escapism has a bigger purpose. She also talks about wealth onscreen despite the mostly disdain for it in real life. .   Cinderella Is Dead: Book Bans and Bold Stories (05:34) Join FBC contributors Jordy and Mhairie as they dive into the banning of Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron and what it reveals about the power of diverse storytelling. They discuss why books with LGBTQ+ representation and feminist themes are frequently challenged and how this connects to the broader attacks on libraries, education, and free expression. If you’re passionate about fighting book bans and protecting inclusive stories, this conversation is for you!    Books and Resources Mentioned: The Davenports by Krystal Marquis The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap by Mehrsa Baradaran A Silver Lining for HBCUs in Affirmative Actions’ Demise from Insider Higher Ed Black wealth is increasing, but so is the racial wealth gap from Brookings Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo ALA statement on White House assault on the Institute of Museum and Library Services from the American Library Association (ALA)  Tracking the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Libraries from American Libraries Magazine  Trump’s Attack on the Department of Education Explained from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)  How Dismantling the Department of Education Would Harm Students from National Education Association (NEA)  Learn more about book bans and take action from PEN America   Support this episode’s host and guest: Follow Ashley: Instagram Follow Jordy: Instagram // TikTok Follow Mhairie: Instagram // Bluesky  Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Amarissa   Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.