Have you read a book in translation for the Unabridged Reading Challenge yet? In this episode of the Unabridged Podcast, we’re discussing our October book club pick, Olga Tokarczuk’s Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones. We share our reactions to this unusual literary mystery and explore its thought-provoking questions about humanity’s relationship with nature, justice, and whose voices are taken seriously. We

by Jen Moyers (@jen.loves.books) Hi! This is a 2026 update—my second update!—for this blog post with 10 new recommendations for you! These are perfect reads, whether you're still thinking about Indigenous People's Day or looking ahead to November's American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. The titles with the asterisk next to them are new for 2026. Next month, we'll be reading Legendary Frybread Drive-in (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), a short story collection edited by Cy

Curated by Jen Moyers (@jen.loves.books) One of the greatest joys of reading is discovering voices that open windows into experiences, cultures, and communities beyond your own—and the authors featured in today's post do exactly that. This month, we're spotlighting books by Asian-American, Pacific-Islander (AAPI) authors across a range of genres, all of which would meet the category in this year's Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge. Whether you're in a reading funk, craving

Curated by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (@ashley_dicksonellison) I don't know about you, but I'm definitely looking toward some fun, fast-paced, thought-provoking books as spring starts to bloom all around me. This desire prompted me to look back at our book reviews, and I noticed we have quite a few young adult fantasy book recommendations within our reviews, many of which I haven't read yet. I found some to put on my TBR stack, and I hope this compilation helps you find some for

by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (@ashley_dicksonellison) We know many of you are excited about celebrating Middle Grade March by reading lots of middle grade book picks! While I'm not a middle grade expert by any means, I've read quite a few middle grade picks over the last few years, and I'm excited to share some recent favorites with you all. *I'm updating this list for 2026, and my latest recommendations are marked with an asterisk. Also, if you're wanting to read more middle gr

Curated by Jen Moyers (@jen.loves.books) Since we traditionally celebrate love in February, I'm sharing some reviews of YA romances that we've loved. Some of these are mixed with other genres, but all of them include romance as a prominent component, and each of them offers a unique take on romance: Jennifer E. Smith's THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT - An Unabridged Buddy (Jen's review): "Jennifer E. Smith's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sigh

Curated by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (ashley_dicksonellison) We celebrate Indigenous authors at Unabridged, and we wanted to share a few of the many books we've recommended over the years in this curated list. These stories span genres and nations, offering powerful perspectives and unforgettable characters. Whether you’re looking for a deep dive into history, a multi-generational family saga, or a chilling contemporary read, we hope you’ll find something new to add to your TBR.

by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (@ashley_dicksonellison) I'm updating this post for 2025 with some new favorites! The new recommendations are indicated with an asterisk. I first wrote this in 2021 in preparation for our August Book Club discussion about Balli Kaur Jaswal's Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows. That book had so many amazing threads woven together, but one of them that really resonated with me was the way that generational and cultural differences can be overcome. One o

Curated by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (ashley_dicksonellison) Young adult books set in schools capture so much of what makes teen life both challenging and meaningful. High school hallways, classrooms, and sports courts become the backdrop for stories about identity, friendship, bullying, and finding your place in the world. In this roundup, I’m sharing five powerful YA novels that take place in or around schools—each one offering a unique perspective on growing up, from mysterie

by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (@ashley_dicksonellison) As the school year gets underway for a lot of people, I wanted to share some young adult and middle grade books that explore important topics like bullying and mental health. This is an update from a post I did way back in 2021, and the new recommendations have asterisks. *Jas Hammonds's We Deserve Monuments (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) - This brilliant book is part mystery, part romance, part southern lit, and it encapsulates s

Curated by Jen Moyers (@jen.loves.books) As we honor Juneteenth—a day that marks emancipation and the ongoing struggle for Black freedom and equity—we’re highlighting young adult books that center justice, activism, and the lived experiences of Black characters. These stories tackle systemic injustice, personal and collective resistance, and the power of community and voice. Whether you're looking for contemporary realism, historical fiction with a twist, or sharp dystopian w

by Jen Moyers (@jen.loves.books) *pun intended This month, our Unabridged Podcast Book Club pick is Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious, which is highlighted in this post, so I thought it would be a great time to update this list of YA mystery (and mystery-adjacent) books! New recommendations are marked with an asterisk. Last week, Sara and I chatted about the pilot of the adaptation of Karen McManus's One of Us Is Lying (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)—you can check out the episode her

Curated by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (@ashley_dicksonellison) This month, we’re highlighting a curated list of book reviews that celebrate the voices, stories, and brilliance of AAPI authors. From sweeping historical fiction to sharp contemporary memoir, cozy mysteries to YA royalty fantasies, this roundup features a range of genres and perspectives that illuminate both personal and cultural histories. These reviews spotlight books we've loved—stories that have moved us, challen

by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (@ashley_dicksonellison) Here are a few of my favorite reads by AAPI authors. I've included some adult picks, young adult picks, and a couple of picture books. I first posted this list in 2021 and wanted to update with some more amazing books I've read since then! The books with the astericks beside them are the latest additions. Adult Picks Helen Hoang's The Bride Test (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) - I've shared my love of this romance novel many times

Curated by Jen Moyers (@jen.loves.books) We’re always thinking about the stories we share—and the ones we don’t. In recent years, we’ve seen a welcome shift. A growing number of authors are writing stories that center disabled characters in ways that are nuanced, authentic, and deeply human. In this post, we’re highlighting a selection of books that foreground characters with disabilities across a range of genres and age levels. Some are joyful, some are challenging, and all

by Jen Moyers (@jen.loves.books) This month, our Unabridged Podcast Buddy Read pick is Mackenzi Lee's A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)—an absolutely fabulous, frothy novel with a serious core—and it inspired me to recommend these eight amazing YA historical fiction books. Each of these offers a new perspective on history, a new facet of our past about which I just didn't know enough. Traci Chee's We Are Not Free (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) "And I

Curated by Jen Moyers (@jen.loves.books) Though we read books by Black authors all year long, in honor of Black History Month, I'm going to share historical works by Black authors that we’ve reviewed on the blog. And, of course, I'm going to recommend that you check out our January Book Club episode, where we discussed Percival Everett's James. Click on the titles to see the full reviews. Click on the Bookshop and Libro links to purchase the books using our affiliate links. D

by Jen Moyers (@jenlovesbooks) One of our Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge categories this year is "Romance featuring a character with a disability." This area of representation is one I've seen increasing awareness about, and there are more and more options being published . . . but sometimes, I still have to be deliberate in looking for books that qualify. At any rate, here are some options for meeting the category that I would recommend! I'm going to start with some au

As we approach winter break, we wanted to share a re-release of a book club episode about a seasonal novel we loved discussing. 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 Umr

This month on Unabridged, we’re thrilled to share our Patreon discussion about Greta Gerwig’s Little Women with you all. In this beloved adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, Gerwig brings a fresh, nuanced perspective to the March sisters' journeys, exploring themes of independence, ambition, and sisterhood in ways that resonate with today’s audiences. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Little Women or discovering Gerwig’s take for the first time, this episode is ful