March Books on the Radar (2025)

Summary

Book Talk, Etc. Podcast – March Books on the Radar (2025) Summary

Hosts:

• Tina (@tbretc)
• Hannah (@hanpickedbooks)

Release Date: February 25, 2025

Overview:
In the March edition of "Books on the Radar," hosts Tina and Hannah delve into a curated selection of anticipated releases, sharing insights, synopses, and personal reflections on each book. Their conversation weaves through various genres, offering listeners a rich tapestry of literary choices to consider for their TBR (To Be Read) lists.

---

1. Personal Recommendations: “Loving Lately”

Tina’s Govee Lights Recommendation ([03:20]–[07:32]):
Tina begins by sharing her enthusiasm for Govee lights, emphasizing their aesthetic and functional appeal in creating atmospheric home environments. She highlights two specific products:

• Govee Smart LED Light Bars: Ideal for enhancing home office vibes with customizable colors and syncing capabilities.
• Govee Floor Lamps: Perfect for basement libraries or communal spaces, offering synchronized lighting to complement the decor.

Notable Quote:

“I love having Govee lights in every room—it just really does a good job with creating a nice atmosphere.” – Tina [06:52]

Hannah’s Smith and Taylor Classics ([08:10]–[11:32]):
Hannah introduces the Smith and Taylor Classics collection by Unnamed Press, praising its aesthetic appeal and curated selection of underappreciated classics. She details the subscription model, which delivers six classic titles throughout the year, perfect for her and her brother’s buddy reading initiative.

Notable Quote:

“The covers are seriously so, so pretty. I just have one copy right now, but I'm so excited to get literally all of them and put them on my shelves.” – Hannah [08:31]

---

2. Featured Books on the Radar

A. “Red Clay” by Charles B. Fancher ([03:03]–[16:56])

Synopsis:
"Red Clay" is a historical fiction novel set during the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction. It follows the intertwined lives of a black family and their white owners in Alabama. The narrative begins in 1943 with a frail white woman, Adelaide Parker, visiting the home of the deceased Felix H. Parker. Her presence unearths complex family histories and secrets, providing a nuanced exploration of race, memory, and legacy.

Discussion:
Tina applauds the book for its rich character development and historical accuracy, noting how Fancher models Felix after his own great-grandfather. She highlights the book’s ability to provide comfort through Felix’s longevity and the realistic portrayal of Reconstruction-era tensions.

Notable Quote:

“Felix makes it till he's 80, so I'm like, okay, at least I have that going for me.” – Tina [15:25]

B. “Blueprint” by Ray Gianna Rashad ([16:56]–[21:16])

Synopsis:
"Blueprint" is a dystopian science fiction novel comparable to the works of Octavia Butler and Margaret Atwood. The story centers on Celine Bonet in a Texas where government algorithms dictate personal aspects of black women's lives, including occupation and marriage. Struggling against systemic control, Celine seeks autonomy while grappling with her ancestral heritage and contemporary oppression.

Discussion:
Hannah appreciates the book’s ambitious themes and its exploration of bodily autonomy and power imbalances. While she finds the narrative rich in themes, she notes a desire for deeper world-building, comparing it to Butler’s "Parable of the Sower."

Notable Quote:

“This novel is both a commentary and a pretty intense warning.” – Hannah [17:05]

C. “Broken Country” by Claire Leslie Hall ([22:57]–[24:29])

Synopsis:
Set to release on March 4th, "Broken Country" is a sweeping love story with thriller elements. It follows Beth, whose life intertwines with Gabriel Wolf, her teenage love who resurfaces with his son Leo after a shooting incident. The story navigates secrets, past traumas, and the rekindling of old flames in a small village setting.

Discussion:
Tina is eager to embark on a buddy read with her friend Renee, intrigued by the book’s promising opening line and its blend of romance and suspense.

Notable Quote:

“The gunshot will alter the course of their lives because the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolf...” – Tina [23:05]

D. “The River Has Roots” by Amal El Mohtar ([24:38]–[26:10])

Synopsis:
This novella, released on March 4th by Tor.com, blends horror and fantasy elements. It explores the lives of Esther and Isabel Hawthorne, daughters of a family tending enchanted willows in a town bordering Faerie. When Esther defies tradition by choosing a lover from Faerie, familial and supernatural tensions escalate, threatening the safety and unity of the Hawthorne family.

Discussion:
Hannah expresses excitement for the novella’s haunting narrative and magical realism, noting its brevity makes it an accessible read.

Notable Quote:

“This sounds very haunting. A sweeping family story with magical elements and definitely some horror ties as well.” – Hannah [25:15]

E. “I Leave It Up To You” by Jin Woo Chong ([26:16]–[28:31])

Synopsis:
Scheduled for March 4th, this contemporary fiction novel revolves around Jack Jr., who awakens from a two-year coma to a drastically changed life. Returning to his family's struggling sushi restaurant in Fort Lee, New Jersey, Jack must navigate familial tensions, rekindle past relationships, and rebuild his career.

Discussion:
Tina is intrigued by the second-chance narrative and the culinary backdrop, curious about the protagonist’s journey of rediscovery and reconciliation.

Notable Quote:

“Why do we run from those we love? And why do we still love those who run from us?” – Tina [27:45]

F. “The Anecdote” by Karen Russell ([29:08]–[31:27])

Synopsis:
Releasing on March 11th via Knopf, "The Anecdote" is a Dust Bowl epic featuring five characters in the fictional town of Uz, Nebraska, during a historic dust storm. The novel intertwines magical realism with historical fiction, exploring themes of memory, secrets, and environmental devastation.

Discussion:
Hannah is drawn to the book for its rich setting and complex characters, hoping it will meet her craving for immersive historical narratives akin to "Swamplandia" and "The Four Winds."

Notable Quote:

“This is a book that echoes with urgent warnings for our own climate emergency.” – Hannah [30:12]

G. “Claire Darling” by Kali Kazumi ([31:27]–[33:42])

Synopsis:
"Claire Darling," releasing on March 11th, is a psychological thriller about a woman obsessed with uncovering the truth after her fiancé disappears. Navigating her troubled past and a descent into obsession, Claire embarks on a nightmarish quest that blurs the lines between love and revenge.

Discussion:
Tina is cautious yet interested, anticipating a deep dive into the protagonist’s psyche and the complexities of obsession-fueled narratives.

Notable Quote:

“It is a woman who is on a desperate quest for answers to reveal just how far she's willing to go for love or revenge.” – Tina [32:15]

H. “Friends Helping Friends” by Patrick Hoffman ([33:41]–[35:44])

Synopsis:
Set for a March 18th release by Grove Atlantic, this novel follows Bunny and Jerry, two friends drawn into a white nationalist group to pay off debts after a botched favor for Helen, an attorney with a vendetta. As Bunny infiltrates the extremist group, he faces life-threatening challenges and moral dilemmas.

Discussion:
Hannah highlights the book’s blend of crime and social commentary, lauding its exploration of friendship, extremism, and personal trauma.

Notable Quote:

“He finds himself faced with a choice. Go to jail for years or take a plea deal to go undercover in a white nationalist group under federal investigation.” – Hannah [34:20]

I. “Tilt” by Emma Petit ([35:48]–[38:58])

Synopsis:
Releasing on March 25th, "Tilt" is a dystopian novel set in Portland, Oregon, where Annie, a nine-month pregnant woman, becomes stranded during a massive earthquake while shopping for a crib. Navigating a city in chaos, Annie confronts personal and societal challenges as she strives to reach safety and redefine her life.

Discussion:
Tina is captivated by the high-stakes, time-constrained narrative, eager to experience Annie’s journey of survival and self-discovery.

Notable Quote:

“This is a primal scream of a novel about the disappointments and desires that we all carry and what each of us will do for the people we love.” – Tina [37:05]

J. “The Story She Left Behind” by Patti Callahan Henry ([38:31]–[41:09])

Synopsis:
Scheduled for March 18th by Atria, this historical fiction novel intertwines two timelines. In 1927, young Clara Harrington copes with her mother Bronwyn’s disappearance after publishing a groundbreaking book in an invented language. In 1952, adult Clara embarks on a quest to uncover the mystery behind her mother’s work and disappearance, amidst the backdrop of London’s Great Smog.

Discussion:
Hannah is drawn to the book’s literary mystery and its exploration of generational secrets and the quest for identity.

Notable Quote:

“Clara must find the courage to uncover the truth about her mother and the story she left behind.” – Hannah [40:00]

K. “Dissolution” by Nicholas Binge ([42:27]–[45:25])

Synopsis:
"Dissolution," releasing on March 25th, is a techno-thriller about Maggie, who discovers that her husband Stanley’s memory loss is artificially induced to conceal deep-seated secrets. Guided by a mysterious stranger, Maggie delves into her husband’s past, unraveling a conspiracy that threatens the fabric of reality itself.

Discussion:
Tina praises the book’s ambitious plot and its balance between personal stakes and global implications, though she questions the reliability of technology and trustworthiness of characters.

Notable Quote:

“The deeper she dives, the more she unravels. The very course of human history hangs in the balance.” – Tina [44:30]

L. “All the Mothers Hate Me” by Sarah Harmon ([45:28]–[48:11])

Synopsis:
Releasing on March 11th by Putnam, this novel follows Florence Grimes, a 31-year-old party girl, as she becomes embroiled in the disappearance of Alfie Risby, her son Dylan’s bully. Accused of involvement, Florence must navigate dysfunctional relationships and community hostility to prove her innocence and protect her son.

Discussion:
While Tina expresses initial interest, she hesitates due to concerns over the protagonist’s amateur sleuthing, reflecting on the potential for the narrative to become frustrating.

Notable Quote:

“But the only problem is that Florence has no useful skills, let alone investigative ones.” – Hannah [46:00]

---

3. Selection Process Discussion ([41:09]–[42:23])

Methodologies:
Hannah explains her eclectic approach to book selection, utilizing platforms like NetGalley, publisher websites, blogs, and independent press catalogs. She prioritizes titles that resonate personally, eventually narrowing down to five standout choices for each episode.

Notable Quote:

“I'll just look at a couple of blogs, and then, like, I'll look at some independent publishers that I track... and then I'll just write down the ones that are really calling to me.” – Hannah [42:00]

---

4. Current Reads

Tina’s Current Read:

• "Mostly Dead Things" by Kristin Arnett
  Tina describes the book as simultaneously humorous and bleak, centered on a woman who inherits her father’s taxidermy shop. She finds herself intrigued by its messy narrative and compelling characters.

Hannah’s Current Read:

• "Good Dirt" by Charmaine Wilkerson
  Serving as the community read for their Patreon subscribers, Hannah appreciates the author’s previous work and anticipates a rewarding reading experience.

Notable Quote:

“It is very messy. I'm only maybe I'm about 40% in and I just keep reading and I'm like, this is simultaneously gross but eye opening and I can't stop turning the pages.” – Tina [48:15]

---

5. Closing Remarks

The hosts wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to explore the discussed titles and join their Patreon community for exclusive content. They emphasize the joy of discovering new books and the importance of community among book lovers.

Notable Quote:

“Remember, everything's better with books.” – Hannah [50:25]

---

Conclusion:
This episode of "Book Talk, Etc." offers a diverse array of book recommendations spanning historical fiction, dystopian narratives, psychological thrillers, and techno-thrillers. Tina and Hannah provide thoughtful synopses and personal insights, making the episode a valuable resource for avid readers seeking their next literary adventure.

---

Resources:

• Show Notes: Links to all mentioned books
• Follow Hosts:
  • Tina: @tbretc on Instagram
  • Hannah: @hanpickedbooks on Instagram
• Patreon: patreon.com/booktalketc
• Contact: [e-mail]

Transcript

[A]

Now, did I turn on the heater as suggested? No, I did not. Because I know. Because then I have to uncross my legs, go over there, point it in the right direction. So I'd rather just complain about being cold.

[B]

Okay, that's fair.

[A]

You know, I would do. And my bangs are set right now, so I don't want to get moving too much because then I'll have to reset them. Got it.

[B]

No, everything you're saying makes complete sense.

[A]

Perfect sense. Anyway, are you ready?

[B]

I think so.

[A]

Yay. How exciting. With our new cameras with our new.

[B]

Cameras.

[A]

Welcome to booktok Etc. A podcast bound to grow your tbr. I'm Tina from TBR Etc.

[B]

And I'm Hannah from Hand Picked Books.

[A]

This is a conversational podcast about books and more from two Midwest Mood readers who are easily distracted by new releases. And today we're talking about our March books on the Radar.

[B]

If you enjoy listening, we'd love for you to follow us on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. And if you have a quick minute, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on social media. It truly helps us connect with other book lovers.

[A]

Hey everyone. It is the start of a new month so we wanted to take take the time to invite you to join us on Patreon. Patreon is an online membership platform that gives you a way to financially support our podcast and for $5 a month you get access to all of our bonus content, everything we create this coming month, and everything from our backlist. And you also get access to our wonderful Patreon community every time we get together. We just did Mood Reader Happy Hour yesterday. I'm just reminded how wonderful a group of people it is. You have ever wanted your reading experience to be more social? This is a great way to find that connection. For $5 a month you get access to two bonus episodes and one recorded event as well as invites to our BTE Discord server and Facebook group. We also host a monthly community read on our Discord, which is a text based book club that feels like a big group chat without the pressure of being on camera. Now let me share our March bonuses with you. We are going to be doing a DNF chat. We have not done one since fall so I'm sure we've got a lot of titles to share and we're also going to be doing a niche Novels where Hannah and I bring overly specific book recommendations depending on whatever topic we come up with for that month. Our live event is going to be a bookstore browse with so much more to the story. A bookery in Monroe, North Carolina. Now, if this sounds like something you'd be interested in, we'd love to have you just go to patreon.com booktalk etc or look for the link in our show notes. And thank you so much for your support. Hi, Hannah.

[B]

Hey, Tina. How are you?

[A]

I am good. How are you?

[B]

Still recovering from the flu. My voice sounds a little bit off today, so I do apologize. But we're doing the best we can. I'm feeling a lot better.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So.

[A]

And I'm excited to talk books, as always. Yes. I'm glad we, we bumped it a day. I'm glad you were able to recover. And I didn't hear from you for like 24 hours. And I'm like, huh? I. And I, I was like, maybe she's just on in office today. And you know, I didn't think anything of it, but I was like, oh, when you responded, she texted me at like seven at night. Like, what did I miss? I feel like I've missed something. Like, you were definitely out of commission for like a full 24 hours.

[B]

Definitely was. I had to. Yeah, I, I took some time off work too. And you know, sometimes like, if I have a cold or something like that, you know, I'll. Cause I, I work mostly remotely. I'll still work and. Because, you know, I'm fine. Like, I've got a cold or whatever, but I can still sit and get things done. But this was definitely one of those ones where I was like, no, I'm. I'm out of commission. Call everybody. Call. Like, I can't. I can't get up out of bed.

[A]

But close the office.

[B]

The office. Yeah.

[A]

Well, I'm glad you're here today. We're fine. We're doing good. It's chilly as can be. I mean, this has been the coldest year, the coldest February in a while. I feel like I have not walked the girls to school or my, my oldest to school, which is rare because usually ye walk every time. And this, if it's below 20, I'm not walking. Like, that's insane. We did walk one day though, and Lily kept complaining the whole time. I'm really cold. It's really cold out. I'm like, yeah, you wanted to walk. And so, yeah, I'm ready for. It's very sunny, but I'm ready for a little bit warmer weather. And you know, it wouldn't be a book talk, et cetera, episode if we didn't at least mention the weather one time. But I will also share my loving lately, which is unrelated to the weather. And I can't believe that I've not brought this yet. In fact, I double checked before we started recording because I'm like, I feel like I've talked about this before. But my loving lately are Govee lights. Now, Govee lights are neon lights that I'm sure you've heard about before. There's a ton of different brands, but I'm going to recommend two specific products because I simply can't stop having them around my house. These I got for Valentine's Day from John, so I'm still doing my low buy, but this was on my list of something like a long list for gifts, and he ended up buying me these. They are the Govee Smart LED light bars. And they're an unnecessary necessity. Right. No one needs these things. But I was interested in making my home office more vibey. You know, I'm in there working, maybe I'm recording something. I'm editing, whatever. I'm like, I want some light bars behind my monitor so that way you can turn them on and whatever. It just looks cool. So we got the light bars. They're behind my monitor. And I love it. I think it's really fun. You can control these with your phone. They have different landscapes depending on, you know. Right now, mine are sent to St Patrick's Day because I don't know why not, but it changes. These also are really good because you can set it up if you're, like, playing a video game or whatever. You can set it up to where they will change colors based on what sounds they're hearing or however it works. Listen, I'm no scientist, so I don't know the mechanics behind it, but I do know it will sync up in tune to whatever you're playing on your computer. So that's the first thing. The other thing I'm going to show Hannah right here is my Govee floor lamp. And these are in my basement library area. And I freaking love these things. They just are just so wonderful. Again, very atmospheric. I have two. They sync up with each other, and I think it just really does a good job with creating a nice atmosphere in your home to this point. We have something that lights up from Govee in basically every room of our house at this point. But I'm loving it, so just wanted to bring that as a recommendation. Those are, in general, the Govee lights. And we'll link to the two specific ones that I just mentioned.

[B]

Yeah, I love that they Sync up together.

[A]

It's great. They do. They sync together. And you can also change it. Like if I'm upstairs at night, I'm like, oh, I forgot to turn off the ones in the basement. Tick. Turn them off from my phone.

[B]

I was gonna say, do you do it from an app on your phone?

[A]

I do. The Govee app. Yeah. It's really cool. And you can sync them all up together. You know, it's a whole thing.

[B]

That's very cool. So you have all of them set to like a St. Patrick's Day thing.

[A]

Yep. And I change it with the seasons. Don't be surprised if someday you come to my house and they have outdoor lights. Literally like that. You can see. I was just looking inside of your home. I'm like, don't be surprised if that's me. I got red. I'll have red for Valentine's Day, green for Patrick's Day.

[B]

Yeah. It looks like they've even got stuff for like. I mean, yeah, for their outdoor lights that they have. It looks like they've got stuff that you can like light up your whole house. I'm sure they have stuff to like light up your pool and that's really cool. Great recommendation. It's going to be a completely go VEED house. I love that. Okay. Well, my loving lately is bookish related and it is this classics collection from Unnamed Press and Unnamed Press is an independent publisher that I've been following for a long time. They publish really unique stories. I've always wanted to collect like a really aesthetic classics collection. So when I found these I was so excited. You can buy them in singles, but you can also buy them in bundles. And just recently I purchased their Smith and Taylor Classics 2025 subscription. It comes with six classics and they are all discounted and you get free shipping in the US and they come to you in little bundles. So you're going to get two books in May, north and south and Lady Audley Secret. And then in July you'll get another two books, Wuthering Heights and the Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. And then in November you will get the Romance of a Shop Hauntings. I love this idea of getting them kind of bundled together. And I just recently purchased this because my brother and I are trying to buddy read some classics this year and we got these to read together and we're going to share annotations in them and kind of use this Smith and Taylor classics for our shelves. The covers are seriously so, so, so pretty. I just have one copy right Now, But I'm so excited to get literally all of them and put them on my shelves. You have to go, look at these. They're just absolutely stunning. And like I said, you can just get one at a time, too. But I don't know, I love the idea of the subscription where you can then get them kind of sent to you a little bit at a time. It's just a fun idea. So those are the Smith and Taylor's classics from Unnamed Press.

[A]

What a cool thing. And I hope you bring these to the show when you read them, because I'm curious. I don't know anything about. We know. I. I don't read the classics. I've not been. But these are beautiful. You are correct.

[B]

Yeah, I'm.

[A]

Now I'm going down my own rabbit hole. Look at this. An excellent host by Chelsea G. Summers. Oh, is this new?

[B]

I don't think so.

[A]

She's the author of. They're the author of that Vampire One.

[B]

Yes. A Certain Not A Certain Hunger.

[A]

A Certain Hunger. Yeah, I'm wondering. Anyway, that is neither here nor there. But was that on their. Was that on their Instagram? Oh, oh, that was last year. It came out anyway.

[B]

Yeah. Unnamed Press in general has a ton of really great books. They're a great.

[A]

Are they a traditional publisher or do they publish, like. I should say, do they publish their own books or are they all special editions?

[B]

No, they publish their own books too. They're an LA independent book publisher and they. They aim to bring a curated list of underappreciated and progressive classics back into conversation. But they do. They do have their own. Like, they publish their own books as well.

[A]

Okay, I'm into this. Thank you for bringing that. I will be doing more research on this now. Like I said, I got distracted when I looked over at their Instagram because I'm like, wait, now I want to know more about this.

[B]

Yeah. And I just looked and it says, so in 2024, that is when they launched their new imprint, Smith and Taylor Classics. But Unnamed Press was founded in 2014, and it started with an interest in global literature and a desire to feature international and underrepresented voices. So.

[A]

Well, this is perfect because my latest read is actually from an independent publishing house. It is from Blackstone Publishing, and my latest read is Red Clay by Charles B. Fancher. Y'all, please get this book on your radar. I'm happy that I'm bringing this to a Books on the Radar episode so I can give it its spotlight, I can give it its due. This is an astounding multi generational saga that chronicles the interwoven lives of an enslaved black family and their white owners as the Civil War ends and Reconstruction begins. Now get this set up. This is what totally sold me on it. It begins in. I was going to say present day, but it is historical fiction. So it begins in 1943, and a frail, old white woman shows up in Red Clay, Alabama, at the home of a black former slave on the morning of his funeral. I have this weird, overly specific niche interest. I love when books open with funerals. I think it's. I don't know why. It's just such a great jumping off point for me because it could go in so many directions. People are grieving, like, what is happening here? But in this one there, this man's family, this, the deceased's family, is like, who is this white lady? What is she doing here? They didn't know who she was. And so his people come up to her after and they're like, hey, you know, who are you? What have you? And Adelaide Parker says, a lifetime ago, my family owned yours. And she has a story to tell. And so the family invites her in. And that is a kicking off point for this story because most of it's told in the past. And I think this was such a smart way to set this book up. So it goes back then to the past. And you'll get these interstitial with Adelaide in present day. At one point she falls asleep on the couch and his family's like, are you okay? Do you need to take a break? Anyway, it was just kind of a charming way to tell this because it really is her telling this story. But when you're reading the past, it doesn't read like she's. She's not inserting herself in the narrative at all. You're just really hearing about the late Felix H. Parker, because this story is about Felix. And Adelaide does come to his family home, one to pay her respects, but also to just chat about their experience and share his history because his family didn't know much about his history. And she has things that they don't know about, and she has questions of her own. And it's just basically the story of Felix and how he came to be. It's actually really timely because we were talking about this yesterday at Mood Reader Happy Hour, where there are some stories where you think about, like, what would have happened if these two people didn't meet or if this thing just changed a little bit. You wouldn't get all of these people because the folks that started the family and had children wouldn't have had those children, and all these other things wouldn't exist. And this book sort of, like, makes you think about that, but in the past, you're really just hearing about Felix. And I will say it's tough because it is very much set at the tail end of the Civil War, sort of as the Reconstruction era begins. And you're seeing the people and their opinions about this, right? When I say people, white people are mad, by and large, even the quote, unquote, good white people, that they get a narrative in this story, too. And I thought the author did such a good job with giving nuance to it and showing how easy it was for some people to get sucked into the dominant narrative. This book is so fantastic. Felix is a great character, but he's also got these fantastic characters around him. It's not. It is about him, but you also get to know Adelaide when she was young. You get to know his parents and what happened to them. He's got a dear friend, and it's just such a fully realized story. And I'm like, this character is wonderful. And what I love is you. When you're reading books like these, I'm like, oh, gosh, I know something bad's gonna happen, right? You just have this sense of doom. But, you know, Felix makes it till he's 80, so I'm like, okay, at least I have that going for me. And I can feel some comfort with that. And the fact that Felix felt so real wasn't by accident because the author modeled Felix after the author's great grandfather. You come to find out that the. Yeah, in real life, the author is a journalist, and he found out about his great grandfather and was like, this would be a fantastic story. And a fantastic story it was. He just painted this vivid picture as far as what life was like in Reconstruction Air South. And I loved this book. If you like the book the Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris, if you liked Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, if you like James by Percival Everett, you will find a home with red clay. I think this book is incredible, and not a lot of people are talking about it. It did just come out in January. But get this on your radar. This book is Red Clay by Charles B. Fancher.

[B]

Yeah, that sounds really great, and I'm glad that you picked this one up, because I had heard about it, but then it never, like, went onto my radar enough to. To pick it up. But then I'm glad that you did, and I got to hear you talk about it and that you're bringing it to our listeners because it sounds like it's a really great one.

[A]

It's such a good story. The COVID is not my favorite and I think I did. I didn't even include it in a new release Tuesday because I was like, oh, what's this about Anyway? But I. I think this one does something different and it's definitely worth reading. And it's not too long either.

[B]

Well, speaking of doing something different, I am bringing a book that is doing the same and that is the Blueprint by Ray Gianna Rashad.

[A]

Oh yes, yes. I'm excited to hear about this.

[B]

Okay, so this was one that I think made a couple of Goodreads lists, or at least the one for science fiction, I want to believe, for the Goodreads Choice Awards in 2024. I'd heard quite a few people who read primarily sci fi and fantasy talk about this one rave about it last year, so I was excited to pick it up. This book and its writing are compared to Octavia E. Butler and Margaret Atwood. We're following Celine Bonet and she lives in Texas, where choice no longer exists. There is an algorithm that determines a black woman's occupation, their spouse and place of residence. Celine finds solace in writing this biography for Henriette, who was an enslaved ancestor and concubine to a wealthy planter in the 1800s Louisiana. But history repeats itself with Celine. Lonely and naive, she finds herself entangled with Bastion Martin, a high ranking government official. Celine finds the psychological bond unbearable and she starts to muster up a plan and consider alternatives for her life, and she doesn't have many. She uses Henriette as her guide and she works to decide how to leave it all behind. This story was actually inspired by the lives of enslaved concubines to US politicians and planters, and this particular story unfolds over dual timelines to explore bodily autonomy, hypocrisy, power imbalances, all through the lens of the nation's most unprotected black girls and women. This novel is both. I mean it's, it's brilliant. I thought it was really smart, really thought provoking, though I think ultimately not the right fit for me. I spent a lot of time thinking about how I wanted to talk about this one because I think that this book is doing really cool and important things like I had mentioned and it has worked for so many other readers, especially readers of science fiction, which admittedly I don't read a ton of, but do enjoy. Typically when I do the multi layered narrative and story that shifted between timelines did give this really unique and haunting exploration of power and agency and forced bondage. And our main character, this young black woman navigating a near future of dystopian America, was definitely really compelling. And I think overall the story was really uniquely structured. But there was some disconnect for me in particularly just the richness of the narrative and its characters and the world building. I really wanted more world building. And I'm thinking about books like Parable of the Sower, which this one is compared to by Octavia Butler, which has a really rich narrative, really rich characters and world building. And I think I was kind of hoping for that same effect and development here that just never ended up fully fleshing out for me. I will say the author does not shy away from difficult themes, tackling the mental and emotional toll of a life with no real autonomy. I think that is the strongest part of this novel. Some moments were absolutely gut wrenching, made me feel anger and frustration and just break for our main character. I definitely felt like the themes in this one were timely and serve as both a commentary and a pretty intense warning. While I can recognize this book's place in science fiction, especially today, I found it a little lacking in some depth and world building, especially given the weight of the themes that it was carrying or attempting to carry. I admire the risks taken in this one, and I have no doubt that this one will resonate deeply with many readers. And I would actually encourage people to pick this up, especially if you do enjoy science fiction. I think, if anything, this is a great discussion piece from a debut author that I am eager to read more of in the future. Future. It's an ambitious and unsettling debut and I will definitely be watching to see what this author does next. And that is the blueprint by Ray Gianna Rashad.

[A]

Yeah, I'm glad you brought that. Great job. It's always a little more difficult, I think, to talk about books that we know objectively are good, that may or may not have been for us, or not for us in the correct moment that we picked it up. And I think this sounds like one that is. What an interesting. I'm. I'm glad they borrowed from that real history and took like an interesting twist on it. Right. Because that's so fascinating and infuriating and all of those things. But I'm glad you brought it.

[B]

Yeah, me too. I. It's one that I actually would maybe even pick up again a different time and see if it ends differently. For me, because yeah, it's one of those ones where I'm like, well, you know, why was I disconnected from it? Or why did I want more building here? Is this a reader problem or a book problem? I would be interested to maybe in a different season of my life, maybe spend more time with it, maybe read it in print. I did do this one on audio, so yeah, I'm like, well, it was just the audio format because a lot of the reviews that I saw were like, oh, the writing was like really, really rich and like really developed the world. And I was like, well, I didn't really get that from the audio version at least. So maybe if I pick this one up again at some point in my life, I'll do the print.

[A]

I just wrote this down. I love what you said. Is this a reader problem or a book problem? Yes, because that I think happens so often. And we could certainly do a whole entire book, talk about that and give examples of books that I think are good books, but maybe not for us in the moment.

[B]

That's a good idea. Let's do it. We're ready to talk about our books on the radar for March.

[A]

Yes, let's do it. I know. I'm curious to see how many overlaps we've got. First for me is Broken country by Claire Leslie Hall.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And this one I am hoping to buddy read with Renee. We have been trying to buddy read since last year and still have not managed to make it. But I think this is going to be our first read together in March because it sounds really good and it has a great opening sentence. It says the farmer is dead. He is dead and all anyone wants to know is who killed him. Which great jumping off point. And it is about Beth and her brother in law opens the book content warning. He shoots a dog going after their sheep. And what she doesn't realize is that gunshot will alter the course of their lives because the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolf, the man that Beth loved as a teenager and the man who broke her heart all those years ago. Gabriel's back in their small village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son Bobby, who died a few years earlier. Beth gets pulled into her former lover and his son's lives and tensions around the village arise and jealousy comes into play. Beth and her gentle and kind husband Frank are happily married, but they have their fair share of secrets and their relationship relies on the past staying buried. And when the truth begins to come out, events spiral out of control. This time with deadly consequences. I don't know. I think this one's going to be good. They're saying it's a sweeping, sexy love story with the pace and twists of a thriller. I will have to report back to you when I inevitably read it. That one is Broken country by Claire Leslie hall and it comes out on March 4th.

[B]

Yes, this one sounds really great. I'm glad that you brought this one and I had a feeling you would bring it, so I saved it for you.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

My next one is the River Has Roots by Amal El Mohtar. This comes out on March 4th from Tor.com, which is a publisher that I really enjoy. They write a lot of novellas and just kind of interesting, like horror, fantasy, sci fi, like genre bending novels that I really enjoy. So I'm really excited about this new one. This is a hugely anticipated solo debut from the New York Times best selling and Hugo Award winning author. The story is set in a small town of Thistleford on the edge of Faerie, where dwells the mysterious Hawthorne family. There they tend and harvest the enchanted willows and honor an ancient compact to sing them in thanks for their magic. None more devotedly than the family's latest daughters, Esther and Isabel, who cherish each other as much as they cherish the ancient trees. But when Esther rejects a forceful suitor in favor of a lover from the land of Faerie, not only are their sisters bond at risk, but also their lives and the lives of their family. So this sounds very haunting. A sweeping family story with magical elements and definitely some horror ties as well. I am really excited for this one. It's a novella. It's only about 144 pages, so hopefully this is one that I'll be able to sneak in and read in an evening. And that is the River Has Roots by Amal L. Motar.

[A]

You love a novella. I need to read more novellas. I've read like two probably ever.

[B]

Yeah, I really like them. Yeah, I need to find especially horror, like if it has a horror or fantastical element like this one does. Sold.

[A]

Alrighty. Next for me is also on March 4, it's I leave it up to youo by Jin Woo Chong. And this book caught my eye because it's got a great cover, it's got sushi on the COVID and it is a dazzling novel about love, family and the art of sushi. And I asked the question, what if you could return to the point of a fateful choice wiser than before, and find the courage to take a new Path. Love that idea. And I love that it begins. This sounds really weird, but I love that it opens with a man that was in a coma and Jack Jr. Was in a coma. And he awakens to a world that he barely recognizes. His job is gone, of course, his Manhattan apartment is gone, and the love of his life has left him behind because he's been in a coma for two years. And he then realizes it has been 10 years since he last saw his family. He doesn't know what to do. He wakes up. He's lost and disoriented. So he makes a reluctant homecoming. Back to the bustling Korean American enclave of Fort Lee, New Jersey, back to the waiting arms of his parents, who are sort of acting as though he had never left. And back to Joja, jojamart Joja, their ever struggling sushi restaurant that he was set to inherit before he ran away from it all. So it sounds like he has been estranged from these people and he was in a coma. Now he comes back home to work in the sushi. God, I can't say that word. Sushi restaurant that he abandoned. So he's stepping back into this life. And of course, it's not as though nothing has changed. It's been years, and he is learning again how to make sushi. He's working in the restaurant and sparring with his recovering alcoholic brother, but also embraces new roles, including that of romantic interest to the nurse who took care of him. Come on. Love it. Basically, this is a second chance story. And it sounds like it's very messy, even messier than running a restaurant. And it asks the question, why do we run from those we love? And why do we still love those who run from us? Very interesting questions. Very curious about this one. This book is I Leave it up to you by Jin Woo Chong.

[B]

Wow. With the Restaurant Tie in and the Second Chance, this sounds so good.

[A]

It sounds so good.

[B]

And you like books with a restaurant tie in?

[A]

I do. I do if they're done well. But I'm trusting in the. And I don't know sushi restaurants, so I'm gonna assume that it's fair. But it's a great cover, and it sounds like it's a big departure from this author's previous novel. They're the author of Flux, which I remember I was like, what is this about? And it was a gorgeous cover, but a little confusing with the synopsis. For me, I think this one is more sort of contemporary fiction.

[B]

Okay, cool. Well, I am excited about that one. That one sounds really good. My Next pick is the Anecdote by Karen Russell. This comes out on March 11. Did you have this one?

[A]

I did, yeah. This one sounds really cool.

[B]

Okay. Okay. This one comes out on March 11th from Knopf. And this is a gripping Dust bowl epic about five characters whose fates become entangled after a storm ravages their small Nebraska town. The story opens on Black Sunday as a historic dust storm ravages the fictional town of Uz, Nebraska. But Uz is already collapsing not just under the weight of the Great Depression and the Dust bowl drought, but beneath its own violent histories. The anecdote follows a prairie witch whose body serves as a bank vault for people's memories and secrets, a Polish wheat farmer who learns how quickly a hoarded blessing can become a curse, his orphaned niece, a basketball star and witch's apprentice in furious flight from her grief, a voluble scarecrow and a New Deal photographer whose time traveling camera threatens to reveal both the town's secrets and its fate. So we've got lots of characters here. This novel above all is a reckoning with a nation's forgetting, enacting the settler amnesia and willful omissions passed down from generation to generation, and unearthing not only horrors but also possibilities. This is a book that echoes with urgent warnings for our own climate emergency, challenging readers with a vision of what might have been and what still could be. This Also, the blurb doesn't say this, but it kind of sounds like it's also nodding to wizard of Oz a little bit with like us, Nebraska. And there's a scarecrow moment and it's happening during the Dust bowl. So I don't know if there are going to be other wizard of Oz tie ins, but I would love that if that were the case. I absolutely loved Swamplandia by this author and I've wanted more stories set in this time in American history ever since I read the Four Winds by Kristin Hanna and loved the setting and the time period but didn't enjoy the story. So I'm really eager to read this one and hope that it provides what I'm looking for in this historical literary context. And that is the Anecdote by Karen Russell.

[A]

Yes, this one is also on my list. Same thing. I enjoyed the Kristin Hannah book, but I immediately thought of that and I'm like, let me see if I can find a book that is set during that same time period, but obviously from a different point of view. So good one. That is on my list. What else is on my list is Claire Darling by Kali Kazumi this is a psychological thriller. And actually this book bumped another book that I had on my list because it came in the mail yesterday and it was sitting there and I'm like, well, let me just see what this is about. And all of a sudden I'm in chapter three. And this is not the book I supposed to be reading, but I'm reading a little bit of it. And it's about a woman who has been ghosted, but she will not be forgotten. It is a woman who is on a desperate quest for answers to reveal just how far she's willing to go for love or revenge. Because Claire is our main character. She is excited to drop off lunch for her fiance, and he works in this, like, high tech industry. I don't know what it is, but she's like, kind of feeling out of place, and she's like, dropping off this little lunch for him because it's their anniversary and she's excited. But then she gets there and the receptionist says that no one by her fiance's name works there. And she's like, okay, we'll check again. And then someone comes out who is supposedly Noah's boss and is like, yeah, he hasn't worked here for months. So everything is upended. Noah's not picking up her calls. Her texts go unanswered. And it turns out that Noah has a different life, one with a beautiful girlfriend in a beautiful house. And Claire was never really in the picture. This is in the synopsis. This is not a spoiler. That's the setup of this book. Claire's pissed. She's not going down that easily and goes on a nightmarish journey of obsession that submerges her deeper and deeper into her own past. And you find out that she came up really rough. She has, like, a rough relationship with her mother. And I am very curious now. I will say this, I think, is a book that has women who are obsessed with man. And. But I'm. I'm hoping, and I. I think there will be more depth to it than, you know, oh, my God. This guy was the love of my life. Like, I think we're gonna get more than that. And it's also. I love a revenge story. So we shall see how this one ends up. And I'm gonna be reading it. It's Claire Darling by Kali Kazumi. Comes out on March 11th.

[B]

Ooh, that one sounds really good.

[A]

That was a short one. Sorry. That's okay.

[B]

I hadn't heard of that one before. I'm glad that you brought that. Okay. My next One is Friends Helping Friends by Patrick Hoffman. This comes out on March 18th from Grove Atlantic. This is about Bunny, who grew up poor in Grand Junction, Colorado. Now he's in his 20s working in Denver, and his dreams are pretty simple. He wants to help his uncle pay rent, save a little money, and maybe start a business one day. But then we have his best friend, Jerry, who fantasizes about moving to California. The problem is, they don't have any prospects. Enter Helen. Helen is an attorney with an ax to grind against her ex husband, who also happens to be a judge in a local court. She offers Jerry and Bunny a deal. Scare her ex husband, rough him up a little bit, and she'll give him a few thousand dollars. Bunny's relatively solid conscience isn't enough to stop him from biting because his uncle is behind on rent for the apartment that they share, and Bunny will do anything to bail him out. And it's just a small favor, right? It's simple. Just friends. But when Bunny and Jerry are inevitably arrested, Bunny finds himself faced with a choice. Go to jail for years or take a plea deal to go undercover in a white nationalist group under federal investigation. So Bunny obliges, and soon he finds himself witness to a new world of startling violence, toxic masculinity, and warped conceptions of discipline, religion, and patriotism. If these men discover that he's a snitch, they will certainly kill him without blinking. His life is at stake, but so is his freedom. This isn't. Doesn't that sound wild?

[A]

Yes. Great.

[B]

It sounds so wild. This is part crime novel, part portrait of friendship, extremism, and inherited trauma. And I am thinking that this might be the perfect blend of literary and thriller for this particular reader. So I hope that I am right. And that is Friends Helping Friends by Patrick Hoffman.

[A]

Ooh, report back, because that one I love the sound of.

[B]

I will. The COVID is really striking, too, and.

[A]

I have not heard of it.

[B]

Grove Atlantic is another indie independent publisher that I like to look at, and so a lot of times their books don't show up on a lot of the lists. But sometimes I'll go to their website and just see what they're putting out there, which I did this time around. And I'm glad that I found that one because it sounds really great.

[A]

Yeah, that does sound really good. And I do like the COVID I like the font.

[B]

Yep, that font. That's great.

[A]

I know you know, that's my kind of font. All right, good one. My next one I don't like the COVID of, but I like the sound of it. It is Kilt by Emma Petit and this one comes out on March 25th. Wait till you hear about oh God, let me not wait until you hear the synopsis for this one. It is set over the course of one day, which I love, and it is a heart racing debut about a woman facing the unimaginable, determined to find safety because Annie is nine months pregnant and Annie is shopping for a crib at ikea. Annie sounds like a type B personality because I feel like you should have had this crib already, but that's neither here nor there. But when she's at Ikea, there is a massive earthquake and it's in Portland, Oregon. She has no way to reach her husband, no phone nor money, and the city is left in chaos and there's nothing to do but walk. So she's walking, making her way across the wreckage of Portland. And of course she is experiencing human desperation and also kindness. Strangers offering help, a ride at a grocery store, and an unlikely friendship with a young mother. And as she walks, Annie reflects on her struggling marriage, her disappointing career, and her anxiety about having a baby. If she can just make it home, she is determined to change her life. This is a primal scream of a novel about the disappointments and desires that we all carry and what each of us will do for the people we love. I can't wait. I will absolutely be reading this as soon as possible. I need to know if Annie makes it. I need to know what's going to happen to Portland. There's so many questions that I have and I love novels set over the course of one day. So we shall hopefully this is a hit. This one is Tilt by Emma Petit.

[B]

Yeah, you're right about the COVID There is something about the COVID that although it is unique because I remember seeing this cover when I was looking at books recently. I was looking at some blog of books coming out in March and I remember specifically seeing this cover and just brushing it off and I continued scrolling and I should have read the synopsis because you're right, that sounds great. But it does tell you how much those covers, if you don't like it, you're more likely to just keep on swiping and pay attention.

[A]

It's not a bad cover. There's a bird on it and the font is tilted, but I think I would have thought it's like poetry or something if I didn't know any better.

[B]

I was gonna say it doesn't seem like a bad cover, but it doesn't seem like based on the COVID a book that I would like genre wise or whatever.

[A]

It is filed under dystopian fiction. And that is definitely not a dystopian fiction cover, in my humble opinion.

[B]

Agreed, 100%. Okay, well, my next one is historical fiction. It is the Story She Left behind by Patti Callahan Henry. And this one comes out on March 18 from Atria. It is inspired by a true literary mystery. It's a story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter's search for them both. It is set in 1927, when we're following 8 year old Clara Harrington's magical childhood that shatters when her mother and renowned author Bronwyn disappear off the coast of South Carolina. Bronwyn stunned the world with a book written in an invented language that became a national sensation. Her sudden departure has left behind not only a devoted husband and heartbroken daughter, but also the hope of ever translating the sequel to her landmark work. The news headlines are of course focusing on this missing author and the tragedy of that. But Clara yearns for something much deeper and more personal, which is her mother. Then we have a second timeline. As we often do in these historical fiction novels, we're following Clara in 1952, where she is an illustrator raising her own daughter, Winnie. And then a stranger named Charlie contacts her from London, claiming to have discovered a handwritten dictionary of her mother's lost language. Clara is very skeptical, but compelled by a tragedy of her mother's vanishing, she crosses the Atlantic with Winnie, only to arrive during one of London's most deadly natural disasters, the Great Smog. Her daughter is asthmatic and she is in peril. They end up having to escape the city with Charlie and they find refuge in his family retreat, which is nestled in the Lake District. It is there that Clara must find the courage to uncover the truth about her mother and the story she left behind. I've never read anything by this author before, but I've heard great things. The synopsis sounds really great and very compelling. It's one that I've been seeing some book clubs take on this month, so I'm hoping that I get to read this one soon. And that is the Story She Left behind by Patti Callahan.

[A]

Henry, I don't know how I'm going to keep up with all of the books I want to read in March. I know before I think we hit record, you had mentioned you had like 25 on your list. Can you tell me where do you. What do you do? How do you. Do you, like have a spreadsheet, you add them to your Want to read spreadsheet or what?

[B]

Like, what do I do in terms of trying to keep up with just the ones that I'm interested in? Or what do I do with, like, trying to pick out what I end up reading? No.

[A]

Where do you keep it? Like, do you. Is it on a spreadsheet that you keep all this information on?

[B]

No, I keep it everywhere.

[A]

Oh. Just here, there, and everywhere. I thought you had, like, some, like, awesome. I mean, I literally have a new release spreadsheet for our podcast.

[B]

Right.

[A]

I keep up. Did I reference that once in prepping for this episode? No, I did not.

[B]

So I do like that. Yeah.

[A]

If you had, like, some sort of, like, cool way. Because, like, I have been experimenting, and this isn't aside, y'all. But that's okay. I have been experimenting with being more of a structured TBR reader. And so on my spreadsheet, I have a list of books that I want to get to in that month, but still my sneaky mood reader tendencies sneak in and, like, all of a sudden stuff gets bumped and then it's, like, off my list because I'm no longer excited about it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

When I come up with a solution.

[B]

Yeah, I haven't found something, like, super systematic when it comes to these episodes in particular. What I typically do is I'll, like, look at netgalley. I'll sometimes look at that, you know, spreadsheet that you mentioned. I'll look at a couple of blogs, and then, like, I'll look at some independent publishers that I track. Like, I mentioned, Girl, coffee house, press, things like that. And then I'll just write down the ones that are really calling to me. And then before the episode, I'll pick five that end up standing out the most. But, I mean, that's what I've done the last few times. Subject to change. But that's kind of my everywhere.

[A]

This has been my. My problem for the entirety of this podcast. I get so excited about the books coming out, and then I immediately either forget about them or I don't read them, or other things get bummed. So I'm like, how I need to do a better job with capturing these and, you know, making a point to try them. But thank you for indulging. There really are. And I'm just picking one that I recently came across for my last book for today, and, gosh, does it sound interesting. It is called Dissolution by Nicholas Binge, and this one comes out on March 25th. This one is about. They're calling it a techno thriller, which I will Ride with. And it's about a woman named Maggie who has spent the last decade caring for her husband because he is experiencing memory loss and it's erasing all of their beautiful moments they created together. She thinks it's dementia. And then a mysterious stranger arrives at her door and he reveals a shocking truth, that Stanley is not losing his memories. Someone is actively removing them to hide a long buried secret from coming to light. I'm like, what? And so he strikes this thing up with Maggie and says if she does what she's told, she can reverse it and she can get her husband back. And so she agrees and she'll do anything for him. So she is led by this man named Hassan and his technological marvels and breaks into her husband's mind, probing the depths of his past in an effort to save him. The deeper she dives, the more she unravels. A mystery spanning continents and centuries, each layer more complex than the last. And I feel like Jonathan would rather lose all of his memories and have me poking around in his brain. That's my guess, but hard to say. However, as you might guess, Hassan cannot be trusted. Because it's not just memories that are disappearing. Pieces of reality itself are. And if Maggie cannot find out what Stanley did all those years ago and what Hassan is after now, she risks far more than her husband's life. The very course of human history hangs in the balance. I mean, this sounds like it's taking on a lot. I also am seeing it only has 41 reviews now and it's got a 4.5 rating. So that's giving me excitement. It sounds like it's ambitious, but it might pull it off. But this book is Dissolution by Nicholas Binge.

[B]

Yeah, that synopsis sounds absolutely wild.

[A]

Wild, wild times.

[B]

Great find. I sometimes, like, you bring ones and I'm like, where are you finding these?

[A]

That's what I, that's why I asked you. I'm like, how do you keep track of this stuff? Because I'm like, where? I feel like I look at this all the time. And yet still you managed to find ones that surprise me.

[B]

Yeah. Okay, so Tina, this is one. And you'll find out in just a minute. Or at first I was like, no, I'm gonna shy away from this one because it might be a Tina book. But then there's like one word in here. I know you'll know it when you hear it. Where I'm like, I'm like, no, this is why it's not a Tina book. So I think it's safe to bring it.

[A]

Oh, I'm excited.

[B]

And it's all the Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harmon. This comes out on March 11th by Putnam. You're nodding your head.

[A]

I'm nodding my head and laughing. I know exactly what book you're talking about because I almost brought it and then the thing I was like, no, never mind.

[B]

Yes. Okay, so this synopsis starts with a quote says the missing boy is 10 year old Alfie Risby. And to be perfectly honest with you, he's a little. And I just. It's so funny. Like the start. The start of this one. We're following Florence Grimes, a 31 year old party girl who always takes the easy way out. Single, broke and unfulfilled. After the humiliating end to her girl band career, she has only one reason to get out of bed each day. Her 10 year old son, Dylan. But then Alfie Risby, her son's bully and the heir to a vast frozen food empire, mysteriously vanishes during a class trip and Dylan becomes the prime suspect. Florence, for once, is faced with a task she can't quit. She has got to find Alfie and clear her son's name or risk losing Dylan forever. But the only problem is that Florence has no useful skills, let alone investigative ones. And all the other school moms hate her. Oh, and Florence has a reason to be suspect. That Dylan might not be as innocent as she'd like to believe. Hilarious and twisted, propulsive and furious. All the Other Mothers Hate Me is a must read book of 2025. And the reason why Tina probably will not be reading it is it's got the amateur detective moment. They're gonna be so we can't do.

[A]

It around town and it's gonna piss me off.

[B]

Yeah, she's gonna be sleuthing around immaturely and Tina can't vibe.

[A]

I actually picked this because I love the COVID and I did the same thing. I'm like, this sounds really interesting. You know, all the other mothers hate me. You know, whatever. She sounds like an interesting quirky character. But then I was like, oh no, they're gonna be doing amateur detective work. Never mind, never mind. I'm out.

[B]

Well, that was all the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harmon.

[A]

You nailed it. You nailed it. So let me know how that one is.

[B]

I sure will.

[A]

All right, well, I feel like we have a good mix today. My current read is mostly Dead Things by Kristin Arnett. And this book, man, it is so funny, but oddly bleak. But interesting. It is about a young woman who inherits a taxidermy shop after her dad dies in it and she also inherits all of the debt that they were in. And it is very messy. This is a messy story. I'm only Maybe I'm about 40% in and I just keep reading and I'm like, this is simultaneously gross but eye opening and I can't stop turning the pages. So very interested to report back. You'll hear me talk about this one next week because I'm reading it for a specific episode. But it is and I have always wanted to read this author and I'm glad I picked this one up. So far it's mostly Dead Things by Kristin Arnett.

[B]

She's an author that I've wanted to try and I think she has another book coming out this year.

[A]

She does.

[B]

That sounds really good.

[A]

Yes, but.

[B]

And that one has a fun like lime green cover.

[A]

She has some of the great covers.

[B]

Yeah, some really great covers. I am currently reading Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson, which is our book club pick for the Booktalk Etc Community reads. We'll be reading that with our patrons this month and discussing it toward the end of the month. So I am getting a head start on that. I just started it. I'm doing the audio. I would say I'm like 30 minutes in, but so far so good. I loved Black Cake by this author, so I know that I'm in good hands and I'm excited to see where it goes.

[A]

Yes, I'm also reading that one. I'm reading quite a few at this point and I was who We Are. This is who We Are. I'll give a shout out to Kristin Arnett. She's got the book coming out on March 18th. Stop me if you've heard this one. And just a fantastic. Oh my God, the spine is incredible. I'm also. She's posting a picture on it and it's got flamingos in the background of her house. So that must be a thing for her. And she when she first announced this book on her Instagram, she has a funny. Basically she's like, now for some fun gay news.

[B]

Oh, love it.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. Her books are very queer and messy. We need more fun gay news in our lives.

[B]

No doubt.

[A]

Well, that's it for today. We thank you for spending a part of your day with us. Links to all the books mentioned can be found in the show notes. If you enjoyed today's episode, you can help us by following wherever you listen and by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us get our show out to new listeners and grows our audience. And don't forget, if you'd like access to exclusive bonuses, content and community, you can join us for $5 a month on patreon.com booktalk Etc.

[B]

If you'd like to connect with us, you can email us@booktalk etcmail.com you can also connect with us both at Booktalk Etc. On Instagram and Tinabrec and Hannah at HandpickedBooks. Talk to you next week. In the meantime, remember, everything's better with books. We did it.

[A]

Survived.

[B]

We did it.

[A]

Survive the night. Now don't ever move again because you will. I will never get set up in this way.

[B]

Okay, well, good. Noted. I'll make sure that I have gotten all of my peeing done before.

[A]

All of the peeing needs to be completed before we can.

[B]

All the zooming.

[A]

Oh, my God. I know.

[B]

I can't do it. Why is it, oh, I gotta go up and down. That's what it is.

[A]

You know what? You're right. I don't want to be zoomed in on. I can't look at myself. I look insane. It's making me crazy.

[B]

The bangs.

[A]

The bangs. They're not working. They're making me nuts and I can't stop touching them. And John said this would happen and he was right.

[B]

When you were debating on whether or not to get them?

[A]

Yes. I don't like stuff in your face. I'm like. You are correct. They're just not right. And it's making me nuts. Is that better?

[B]

That's so much better.

[A]

I thought so. Okay.