Have you ever finished a book you absolutely loved but found hard to explain? In this episode of Unabridged , we’re discussing our January 2026 Book Club pick, National Book Award winner The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)  by Rabih Alameddine ( Bookshop . org | Libro . fm ), which is brilliant in ways that are sometimes hard to articulate. Before diving into the discussion, we start with a bookish check-in: Ashley shares about Vera Wong’s Guide to Snoo

Are you the kind of reader who loves a little structure, or do reading challenges make you want to run the other way?  In Episode 304  (our first episode of 2026!), we’re ringing in the new year with a conversation about reading challenges , reflecting on what worked for us in 2025, what didn’t, and how we’re thinking about setting reading intentions for 2026.  Then we dive into the 2026 Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge, walking through all 12 categories and sharing a few

http://Libro.fm Have you read Jean Meltzer yet, and are you in the mood for a holiday romance with real heart? In this special encore episode, we’re bringing back our December 2021 Book Club episode (Ep. 207), featuring Jean Meltzer’s The Matzah Ball ( Libro.fm  | Bookshop.org ) , her delightful debut. We loved revisiting this one: it’s funny and festive, but it also has surprising depth as Meltzer thoughtfully explores chronic illness and the power (and weight) of keeping pa

Do you love a good holiday story that brings different traditions, and unexpected friendships, together in one cozy, snowed-in town? We’re diving into our December Book Club pick, Three Holidays and a Wedding  by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley ( Bookshop . org | Libro . fm ). Before we get into the book club chat, we start with a bookish check-in: Jen shares about Nadia Davids’s Cape Fever ( Bookshop . org | Libro . fm ), and Ashley talks about A. R. Abbott’s Founded o

Have you read Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden ( Bookshop . org  | Libro . fm ), or maybe watched one of the adaptations, and wondered how it holds up today? In Episode 301, Jen and Ashley dive into this beloved classic as our November Book Club pick. We start with a Bookish Check-in before diving into our discussion. We talk about what surprised us when revisiting The Secret Garden , from Mary’s truly contrary beginning to the way nature, friendship, and “a bit of

Have you been with us since the early days—or are you just finding your way to our bookish corner? In Episode 300, we celebrate a huge milestone with a very special guest… our beloved former co-host, Sara! We kick things off with a Bookish Check-In, then look back at standout reads and moments from eight years and 300 episodes of Unabridged. We revisit unforgettable conversations and reads, including Dopesick  by Beth Macy ( Bookshop.org  | Libro.fm ) paired with Jarrett J. K

Do you like spooky reads, or do you tend to steer clear of anything too creepy? In Episode 298, Jen and Ashley share our favorite books for the season, and we talk about what makes the perfect fall read. We start with our Bookish Check-in: Ashley is listening to Thorn Season  ( Bookshop.org  | Libro.fm ) by Kiera Cass, and Jen’s revisiting Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend ( Bookshop.org  | Libro.fm ). Then we each bring a fall pick to the table: we share about Megan Bannen’s Th

Have you read Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic or seen the musical adaptation? In episode 297, our September Book Club...

Have you ever hesitated to pick up a buzzy book because you weren’t sure it would live up to the hype? In Episode 296, Jen and Ashley...

Which books are going in your beach bag this summer? In today’s episode, we’re sharing a few great picks for your next vacation—or just...

Have you read Truly Devious  by Maureen Johnson—or maybe even the whole series? In this May 2025 Book Club episode, we’re diving into the...

Have you ever found that reading with a friend makes a book even better? In this episode, we (Jen and Ashley) dive into the joys of buddy...

How do you find your place when you feel stuck between worlds? In this episode, Jen and Ashley dive into Kareem Between  by Shifa...

Have you read Nella Larsen's Passing ( Bookshop.org  |   Libro.fm ) , a brilliant classic written in 1929? Today, we're sharing our...

It’s book club time! This month, we’re diving into Two Wrongs Make a Right  by Chloe Liese—a swoony, opposites-attract romance inspired...

Love is in the air! In our annual February episode, we’re back with some romance recommendations just in time for Valentine’s (or...

What does it mean to explore identity, legacy, and the complexities of family through a literary lens? For our January book club episode of Unabridged, join us as we discuss Percival Everett’s James . This inventive retelling of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn  reimagines the story from Jim’s perspective, giving voice to a character often overshadowed in the original. Packed with humor, grief, and rich reflection, Everett’s novel invites readers to explore themes

Happy New Year! In this episode of Unabridged , we're diving into our 2025 reading challenges and reflecting on the highs and lows of our...

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 our December book club episode of Unabridged, join Ashley and Jen as we discuss Cynthia Hand's The Afterlife of Holly Chase . This...