What are your reading challenge plans for 2024? We're excited to launch the fourth annual Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge . Ashley and Jen are also each participating in other reading challenges as well, and we share those with you in the episode. If you're looking to reach some new reading goals this year, reading challenges are a great way to help you reach those goals. We're continuing our Patreon drive in the new year. In addition to monthly bonus episodes, we are now releasing more con...
Jan 10, 2024•32 min•Season 7Ep. 265
What happens when a nine-year-old girl decides she's determined to sing at Philadelphia's renowned jazz club? Marie-Helene Bertino's 2 AM at the Cat’s Pajamas ( Libro.fm ) is the story of Madeleine Altimari and other people all trying to reach their goals on the eve of Christmas Eve. Listen in to hear our thoughts and our pairings for this book club pick, including Abdi Nazemian’s Like a Love Story ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Fredrik Backman’s My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry ...
Dec 27, 2023•40 min•Season 7Ep. 264
In our annual Unabridged Awards episode, Jen and Ashley share awards we created for some of our favorite books from 2023. We each share three books in this episode, but if you're interested in more of our favorites, be sure to also check out this month's Bookish Fave posts on our blog. Patreon pals, be on the lookout for additional awards coming your way on January 1st! In addition to monthly bonus episodes, we are now releasing more content on Patreon for subscribers. (Our exclusive Bookish Gif...
Dec 13, 2023•43 min•Season 7Ep. 263
Have you read Elliot Page's brilliant new memoir, Pageboy ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm )? Jen and Ashley are discussing our thoughts about this powerful book in the November book club episode. We also share our pairings, including George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Kacen Callendar’s Felix Ever After ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). In addition to monthly bonus episodes, we are now releasing more content on Patreon for subscribers. We appreciate your support so much...
Nov 22, 2023•41 min•Season 7Ep. 262
What are some of your favorite books by indigenous authors? We wanted to share a couple of books we've loved recently that are by indigenous authors including Sonora Reyes’s The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Angeline Boulley’s Warrior Girl Unearthed ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). Let us know your recommendations! In addition to monthly bonus episodes, we are now releasing more content on Patreon for subscribers. We appreciate your support so much. If you haven...
Nov 08, 2023•25 min•Season 7Ep. 261
Are you looking for a ghost story that also explores important social issues? Our October 2023 Unabridged book club pick, Trang Thanh Tran’s She Is a Haunting ( Bookshop.org ), is a young adult horror novel set in Vietnam and explores the lasting impact of colonialism on the country. Listen in to hear our thoughts about this debut novel and check out our pairings, including Clive Barker’s The Thief of Always ( Bookshop.org ) and Ryan La Sala’s The Honeys ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). In addition ...
Oct 25, 2023•43 min•Season 7Ep. 260
What spooky reads are you adding to your TBR list this year? Ashley and Jen share our recommendations for 2023 including Zoraida Córdova’s The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Isabel Cañas’s The Hacienda ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). If you'd like more recommendations, don't miss our Spooky Reads episodes from the past few years (episode 198 , episode 147 , and way back to episode 97 !) where we give lots of spooky book recs. We're also sharing a long curated list of...
Oct 11, 2023•28 min•Season 7Ep. 259
What do you know about Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican Republic? For our September book club pick, Jen and Ashley discuss Julia Alvarez's classic book In the Time of the Butterflies ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ), which is a historical fictional account of the four Mirabal sisters. We also share our pairings including Mario Vargas Llosa’s The Feast of the Goat ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Daniel José Older’s The Book of Lost Saints ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). Celeste Ng's Our Missing H...
Sep 27, 2023•49 min•Season 7Ep. 258
Do you enjoy book recommendations from friends? In episode 249 , Ashley and Jen each picked a book for the other to read, which is one of the categories for the Unabridged Reading Challenge this year. To kick off season 7 of the podcast, Jen and Ashley circle back to the books we've recommended for each other, and we share our thoughts after having read the books. If you're looking for a recommendation from a bookish friend, let us know on social media , and we can recommend something for you to...
Sep 13, 2023•30 min•Season 7Ep. 257
Are you looking for a serial killer thriller with profound social commentary? Michael Bennett’s Better the Blood ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) is propulsive and leaves the reader with many things to consider. For our June Unabridged book club, we're discussing Better the Blood, which is perfect for the 2023 Unabridged Reading Challenge , where it can cover categories including a mystery novel, a book by an indigenous author, and a book set in a country you'd like to visit (if New Zealand is on you...
Jun 28, 2023•45 min•Season 6Ep. 256
Are you looking for the perfect summer read? As we head into summer vacations and beach time, Jen and Ashley are sharing some of the latest books we can't stop reading. Featuring Rebecca Makkai’s I Have Some Questions for You ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Angie Thomas’s Nic Blake and the Remarkables ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ), we'll be sure to share with you some picks that will keep your reading momentum going wherever you find yourself this summer. We're continuing our Patreon drive this su...
Jun 14, 2023•31 min•Season 6Ep. 255
Are you looking for a compelling reimagining of The Little Mermaid? For our May 2023 Unabridged Book Club pick, we're discussing Natasha Bowen's Skin of the Sea. Jen and Ashley share our thoughts about this YA lit fantasy book. We share our book pairings, including Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Rivers Solomon's The Deep, with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). We are continuing with our Patreon campaign. Sign...
May 24, 2023•29 min•Season 6Ep. 254
Have you read any essay collections that you enjoyed? In this episode, Jen and Ashley are sharing essay collection recommendations for books we loved, which are perfect for the 2023 Unabridged Reading Challenge . You could also choose a poetry collection or a short story collection to complete the category! Ashley recommends Jessi Klein’s I’ll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ), and Jen recommends Kelly Jensen’s [Don't] Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start th...
May 10, 2023•32 min•Season 6Ep. 253
Are you looking for a food book to complete your Unabridged Reading Challenge for 2023 ? This memoir is a great pick for that category! For our April Book Club pick, we're discussing Ruth Reichl’s Save Me the Plums ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). We also share our pairings, including Kim Fay’s Love and Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Stanley Tucci’s Taste: My Life through Food ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). We are continuing our Patreon campaign. Sign up...
Apr 26, 2023•39 min•Season 6Ep. 252
Are you looking for historical fiction books to add to your TBR list? In today's episode, Jen and Ashley are revisiting this popular topic with our latest recommendations for historical fiction books based on our recent reads. If you're looking for more historical fiction recommendations, listen in to episode 230 where we shared some recs, and check out Jen's Bookish Fave sharing 7+ Middle Grade Historical Fiction Recs . Want to support Unabridged? For just $5 a month, you can get an extra episo...
Apr 12, 2023•27 min•Season 6Ep. 251
Are you looking for an amazing classic by a Black author? James Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) is a perfect fit for the Unabridged Reading Challenge. We're discussing it as our March book club pick, and we also share our pairings including Tayari Jones’s An American Marriage ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). If you're loving the podcast or our Unabridged blog and would like to support us, for just $5 a mont...
Mar 22, 2023•47 min•Season 6Ep. 250
Do you love reading books that your friends recommend? Jen and Ashley celebrate the joy of recommendations from friends on this year's Unabridged Reading Challenge with a category dedicated to that topic. On today's episode, we're sharing our specific recommendations for each other, which we'll both read for the 2023 reading challenge category. Our picks include Aiden Thomas’s Lost in the Never Woods ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Sara Novic's True Biz ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). Listen in to ...
Mar 08, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 249
Are you looking for an uplifting romance that's full of sweet moments but also powerful social commentary? Check out this month's Unabridged Book Club pick, Chencia C. Higgins’s D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). Listen in to hear Jen and Ashley discuss this one and share our pairings including Alexis Daria’s You Had Me at Hola ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Sophie Gonzales’s Never Ever Getting Back Together ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). We're continuing our Patreon ef...
Feb 22, 2023•38 min•Season 6Ep. 248
Are you looking for romance books to read this season? Jen and Ashley are back with our annual Love is in the Air episode, sharing some of our latest favorite romance books with you. We share our picks, Julia Whelan’s Thank You for Listening ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Mariana Zapata’s From Lukov with Love ( Bookshop.org ). These romance recommendations are from recent reads, but if you're looking for more recommendations, you can listen back to our episodes from previous years, including ep...
Feb 08, 2023•24 min•Season 6Ep. 247
Have you read this propulsive near future dystopian novel by podcast favorite Celeste Ng? To kick off the new year, we're pleased to share our thoughts on our first book club pick of 2023, Celeste Ng's Our Missing Hearts ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). We also include our pairings, Valeria Luiselli’s Lost Children Archive ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Veronica Roth’s Poster Girl ( Bookshop.org ). We're discussing this one on Instagram on January 30th at 8 PM EST, so message us if you'd like to jo...
Jan 25, 2023•54 min•Season 6Ep. 246
Have you found a 2023 reading challenge yet? We're excited to share our 2023 Unabridged Reading Challenge , which we discuss on today's episode. Jen and Ashley also share our reflections on our 2022 reading challenges as we look back over the year, and we share our other reading challenge plans for 2023. Jen plans to do the #23backlistin2023 challenge, the ToB reading list, and her own Jane Austen reading challenge ( #readausten2023 ). Ashley plans to participate in the Uncorked Reading Challeng...
Jan 11, 2023•38 min•Season 6Ep. 245
Looking for a fun, illuminating holiday-centered read? Check out Sonya Lalli's A Holly Jolly Diwali ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ), our December Unabridged book club pick. In this episode, Jen and Ashley discuss thoughts about A Holly Jolly Diwali and share our book pairings including Jean Meltzer’s The Matzah Ball ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Thrity Umrigar’s Honor ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). Are you interested in more content from Unabridged? Join us on Patreon where for $5 a month, you get a...
Dec 28, 2022•33 min•Season 6Ep. 244
In this annual episode that causes us much consternation, Jen and Ashley share some special books we've read during 2022. We reflect over the year, and we each create and give awards to some of our top reads from our 2022 reading lists. It's so hard each year to choose! For a few more picks, join us on Patreon for an extra bonus episode featuring additional bookish awards. (We just couldn't fit them all in here!) For $5 a month, you can be a Bookish Best Friend with access to at least one additi...
Dec 14, 2022•42 min•Season 6Ep. 243
Looking for an amazing children's book that is perfect for many audiences? For our November book club pick, Jen and Ashley discuss Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). We offer our pairings, including Tae Keller’s When You Trap a Tiger ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Melissa Albert’s Our Crooked Hearts ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). We wrap up by talking about our feelings about whether we are morning or night people. Interested in supporting us? Join our Patre...
Nov 23, 2022•42 min•Season 6Ep. 242
On today's Cozy Reads 2022 Recommendations episode, Ashley and Jen share some recent books they've loved that fall into the cozy reads camp. We share about Alexis Hall’s Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake and Sarah Addison Allen’s Other Birds. (Ashley would like to note that her pick has some cozy components but is an open door romance!) As we mention in the episode, Libro.fm is doing Credit Bundles for the holidays, and we're happy to support them as an affiliate! Looking for more cozy reads? Be su...
Nov 09, 2022•25 min•Season 6Ep. 241
Oh my goodness, drop what you are doing and read this book! Spoiler alert: Jen and Ashley both loved Tiffany D. Jackson's The Weight of Blood ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) so much, and there is a ton to discuss. This one just came out in September. In the episode, we also offer a couple of other spooky reads perfect for the fall reading season including R. J. Jacobs’s Always the First to Die ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s Ace of Spades ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). Visit th...
Oct 26, 2022•49 min•Season 6Ep. 240
In this episode, Ashley talks with Barrett Holmes Pitner, author of The Crime Without a Name: Ethnocide and the Erasure of Culture in America ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). Pitner shares some thoughts and perspectives on what ethnocide looks like in American history, where we are culturally today, and what we can do to look toward a more fulfilling future tomorrow. Want to Connect with Barrett Holmes Pitner? In addition to being an author and journalist, Barrett is founder of The Sustainable Cultu...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 6Ep. 239
Do you enjoy retellings of the epics? Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) is a retelling of Homer's The Illiad. Jen and Ashley share our thoughts about this book club pick, and we share our pairings including Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) and Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ). Looking for more Unabridged content? Join us on Patreon , where we release an additional episode each month. Visit the Unabridged websit...
Sep 28, 2022•43 min•Season 6Ep. 238
Have you read any books that center nature or the environment lately? In this episode, Ashley and Jen share books they've read recently - including Charlotte McConaghy's Once There Were Wolves ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) and Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior ( Bookshop.org | Libro.fm ) - that consider the role of nature as part of the story. These recommendations are perfect for the 2022 Reading Challenge category about the environment. Visit the Unabridged website for our full show notes and ...
Sep 14, 2022•26 min•Season 6Ep. 237
In our August 2022 book club episode, we discuss Laura Gao's Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American. We share pairings for Gao's memoir including Malinda Lo’s Last Night at the Telegraph Club and Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese. Visit the Unabridged website for our full show notes and links to the books mentioned in the episode. Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page. Want to support Unabridged? Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram, Faceboo...
Aug 24, 2022•36 min•Season 6Ep. 236
