← Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
The Booksellers' Guide to Gifting with Emma Straub and Lucy Yu
00:49:43
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- [00:00]
A
This is an I Heart podcast.
- [00:02]
B
Guaranteed human.
- [00:04]
A
Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton we spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you? In the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for a lazy weekend morning with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. And it's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into everyday moments. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives. Learn more at thefabricofourlives.com@just roll they believe the kitchen is where joy lives with their refrigerated dough. There's no fussy proofing, no hours of waiting. Just big smells, big smiles and that first irresistible flaky bite. It's tiny hands helping unroll the dough. It's laughing over a slightly wonky cinnamon swirl. It's pulling golden puffed layers out of the oven and hearing that perfect crispy crackle. They do the hard part so you could skip straight to the fun. Just Roll Puff Pastry is made with non GMO high quality ingredients ready to roll with parchment paper straight from the fridge. No thawing, no stress, just golden bakery worthy layers every single time. With Just Roll every bake is simple. From savory show stopping appetizers to sweet dessert masterpieces, this is a fresh way to bake. Familiar but better. Find Just Roll Puff Pastry in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or visit justroll.com to find a store near you.
- [01:48]
C
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- [02:17]
B
Having MG can make cooking difficult, but.
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D
Over the years I've found some really helpful tools and tips that I'm excited to share. Hi, I'm Alicia. I think cooking should always be fun, creative and of course delicious.
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B
These black Bean burgers are hearty, full.
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A
Of flavor and MG friendly.
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D
You're gonna love them.
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E
Check out Alicia's Black Bean Burger cooking video and other recipes full of tips and tricks for managing common MG symptoms while cooking only at mg-united.com Ready?
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B
Let's cook. Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap.
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A
You're almost at the finish line. But first.
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There, the last one.
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Enjoy a Coca Cola for a pause that refreshes.
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Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club is presented by Apple Books.
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Hi, I'm Danielle Roubaix. Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club.
- [03:30]
Okay, we are officially in the holiday season. And since we in the club all know that a perfectly chosen book is one of the best gifts out there, we have the perfect gift for you. Two guests, two book bosses. Can you guess who it is? Okay, I'll give you a hint. They are owners of some of the most beloved indie bookstores in New York City.
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D
My passion has always been literature because I think the written word is how we translate all of our thoughts and passions to each other and how we share who we are with each other.
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A
That's Lucy Yu's voice. She runs you and me books in New York's Chinatown neighborhood. Okay, can you guess who our second guest is? I'll give you a hint. She's an author, too.
- [04:15]
B
When I'm in the store and the lights are off and it's totally quiet and it's just me surrounded by books, that is when it actually feels like the closest to the fantasy of owning a bookstore.
- [04:31]
A
Well, if you guess Emma Straub, who owns Books are magic in Brooklyn, you are a genius. Emma and Lucy are friends in real life, and they both run their stores as community hubs where people can gather, chat, and. And find the perfect literary pairing. And when I say this is the TBR episode of all time, I mean all time. You gotta pause what you're doing and open your notes app or grab a piece of paper and a pen because you're gonna wanna capture all of the recommendations from these two. We're talking fiction, fantasy, surprising finds, deep cuts, romance. We all know that feeling of finding a new read. It's like a discovery high. This episode is full of them. So if you've ever romanticized the idea of owning a little shop around the corner, I know you have. We all have. You are in the right place. Let's turn the page with Emma Straub and Lucy Yu.
- [05:26]
Emma, Lucy, welcome to the club.
- [05:28]
D
Hi. Happy to be here.
- [05:30]
B
Thanks for having us.
- [05:31]
A
Well, you run two of our favorite bookstores in New York, so we're so excited that you're here. But for listeners who've never gotten the opportunity to Step inside your stores. I want to give them a little taste. If your stores had a personality type, Emma, what would yours be?
- [05:50]
B
A personality type? Is this like. Like an Enneagram test? Like that sort of thing?
- [05:55]
A
Like Myers Briggs? Yeah.
- [05:58]
B
Okay. I've never done one of those, so I don't know. Is that. But we are bright, we are bubbly, we are outgoing, we are sometimes a little like. I try not to describe the bookstore and myself like exactly the same way. But really it like it is what it is. You know what I mean? It's like. It's a little pink. It's a little loud.
- [06:25]
A
Yeah.
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B
And it's really fun. It's like populated with smart, fun people all the time.
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A
Lucy, before you share yours, I'm curious, Emma, if we could assign an astrological sign, what would it be? It's. It's giving like Taurus.
- [06:40]
B
Well, I will tell you. So I personally am a Taurus and the store is also a Taurus. So you are right.
- [06:50]
A
That was the most LA thing I've ever done. Okay, Lucy, how about you? What's your store's personality type?
- [06:57]
D
Oh man, I think we toggle between a ENFP and an INTJ combo. And.
- [07:06]
I guess I'm both of those things. An astrological sign. I have four Scorpios in my chart which make people go like.
- [07:16]
But it just means that I'm really emotional. And I think that we're kind of like a Scorpio, Aquarius, Taurus hybrid. Really grounded, kind of like just little secret y. Little subversives. But yeah, and we also. Aquarius. I feel like every Aquarius is an individual and I feel that way about our book selection.
- [07:41]
A
I think you get to experience something that so many of us dream about as kids and even as adults, which is being in a bookstore alone when nobody is in there. And you get to experience that all of the time. I know it's your work, but is there a certain ritual that you have?
- [07:58]
D
I usually. If I do have solo time at the store, it's usually on Mondays when. Monday nights when we're closed and I love to put on an album and I just lie on our poofs, which is like our seating arrangement on the upstairs. I like lie on four poofs and I just take a nap.
- [08:21]
A
That's really nice.
- [08:22]
B
That is the way.
- [08:23]
A
Emma, how about you?
- [08:24]
B
I have sort of like the opposite which is that I am often in the store by myself because so our second location is two blocks away from my kids school. And so I often. I, you know, I Walk them to school at, like, between, you know, drop them off at like 8:15, 8:30, and we don't open until 10. And so then I walk to the bookstore, either by myself or with my husband. And that's actually most of the time I'm in the bookstore. Like, most of the time I'm there by myself and in the dark. And it's amazing. Like, running a small business. Lucy knows this 10 million times over. Running a small business is not easy. Even a small business that, like, seems so dreamy from the outside, like running a bookstore. But when it's. When I'm in the store and the lights are off.
- [09:26]
And it's totally quiet and it's just me surrounded by books, that is when it actually feels like the closest, like, to the. To the fantasy of owning a bookstore.
- [09:38]
A
Lucy, you opened you and Me books at the height of COVID in 2021. That is a wild choice. What inspired that?
- [09:48]
D
Yeah. Not the chillest time to open up a business, I'll be super honest.
- [09:52]
A
Not a brick and mortar, for sure.
- [09:53]
D
Not a brick and mortar. But I specifically chose Chinatown after Covid because so many small businesses close in Chinatown. There's such a rise in anti Asian hate. And my passion has always been literature, because I think the written word is how we translate all of our thoughts and passions to each other and how we share who we are with each other. And that's a kind of connection that I felt like faltered in the pandemic out of necessity. We kind of had to filter it back into an electronic communication. And that's missing the breadth of what it means to really storytell in person. Also, in 2020, I lost one of my best friends. And that really just made me feel like I needed to prioritize the things that I really cared about and the things that I was passionate about. And that just came from such a place of pure love. I obviously, it's a huge risk, number one, having a bookstore in Chinatown when small businesses were closing. Also in the pandemic, when just retail was so unpredictable. But I was willing to take that chance because I was so hungry for human connection, and I was so desperate for this deep kind of understanding for other people that is only possible in, in person, third spaces.
- [11:15]
A
And.
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D
And I took that risk because I don't think we actually feel anything as humans in isolation. And if that's something that I'm feeling and something that I'm holding during a really difficult time that everyone in the world is experiencing such intense grief, I'm sure I wasn't the only one that wanted something like that.
- [11:33]
A
Well, it's clear that you really created such a community around the bookstore, too. Because I remember seeing, in 2023, I believe, that the bookstore burned down, and there was a huge community that helped rebuild and rally around the store.
- [11:49]
D
Yeah, I really. I'm still so shocked at that moment in time, obviously. Cause there's a lot of grief associated with it, with the loss of the first version of my store. But that's also kind of foiled by this immense and deep love that the community showed up in this way for this tiny bookstore. And a big part of that was also. Emma was such a big part of my community during that time. When the store burned down, she gave me a key to books of her magic. And she was like, whenever you need to use the store, you can. And I feel like that, you know what we know.
- [12:22]
A
Seriously generous.
- [12:24]
D
And that. The earnestness that we talked about before, I think when you lead with that, it can be infectious because a lot of people actually desire that. But to get there, you have to remove all these layers of presentation of self to get to somewhere super vulnerable. And that's where I connect with my community, and that's also where I connect with Emma. And I think that we saw that so quickly in each other, and I feel so immensely supported by her, too.
- [12:50]
B
Oh, that's. You are.
- [12:52]
D
I'm gonna cry.
- [12:53]
B
Don't make me cry on this podcast. Lucy, this is not that kind of podcast.
- [12:57]
D
So sorry. So sorry.
- [12:59]
B
You know, it's really special. And I think that it's not just me, you know, Like, I'm close enough, physically close enough, where there was something, like, concrete that we could offer, which was space for some of Lucy's events. But it wasn't just us, you know, like, there were so many booksellers and readers and writers across the country who swooped in in whatever ways they could, you know, and it's like. I mean, that's my. I mean, I don't want to say that's my favorite part, because it was a tragedy, but I do think that, like, when things are hard, you do get to show up for people, and that that feels good. So I. I love you, Lucy.
- [13:44]
D
Love you, too.
- [13:51]
A
At Just Roll, they believe the kitchen is where joy lives with their refrigerated dough. There's no fussy proofing, no hours of waiting, Just big smells, big smiles, and that first irresistible, flaky bite, its tiny hands helping unroll the dough. It's laughing over a slightly wonky cinnamon swirl. It's pulling golden puffed layers out of the oven and hearing that perfect crispy crackle, they do the hard part so you could skip straight to the fun. Just Roll Puff Pastry is made with non GMO high quality ingredients ready to roll with parchment paper straight from the fridge. No thawing, no stress, just golden bakery worthy layers every single time. With Just Roll every bake is simple. From savory show stopping appetizers to sweet dessert masterpieces, this is a fresh way to bake. Familiar but better find Just Roll Puff Pastry in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or visit justroll.com to find a store near you Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton we spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and with characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you? In the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for lazy weekend mornings with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like the books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into our everyday moments. Moments like following four adult daughters as they navigate love, loss and the legacy in the Most Fun We Ever had by Claire Lombardo, all while curled up in soft cotton joggers. Or Sinking into the island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. A story that spans generations. Forbidden love and a fig tree that remembers everything wrapped in a hand stitched quilt, each thread holding its own kind of memory. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the Fabric of Our lives. Learn more@thefabricofourlives.com.
- [15:59]
C
So let me get this straight. Your company has data here, there and everywhere, but your AI can't use the data because it's here, there and everywhere? Seems like something's missing. Every business has unique data. IBM helps your AI access your data wherever it lives. To change how you do business, let's create Smile to Business. IBM.
- [16:28]
A
Apple Books is the best place to read, listen to, or discover the books you love without a subscription right on your iPhone. And now there's a very exciting heads up for listeners. Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club, so it's easier than ever to explore each monthly book pick, plus author curated collections and more. All in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set goals and track your reading progress. Get great recommendations for your next read or listen and enjoy it all on the go wherever you are. You can even share your books with up to five family members at no cost. Again, no subscription required. Visit Apple Co reeseapplebooks to find out more. That's apple.co reeseapplebooks and read or listen to Reese's current pick and browse past elections today on Apple Books.
- [17:27]
E
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- [18:10]
A
Emma Books are magic. I remember seeing pop up online before I had even been able to go into the space. And you were one of the first bookstores that I saw really trying to connect with readers online and doing it so successfully. You're a native New Yorker. You're the daughter of a writer. You were both a novelist and a bookseller before you opened the first location of Books are magic. And to, to be a little bit earnest and corny myself, like what is the magic of a brick and mortar bookstore in your mind?
- [18:47]
B
Oh, I mean it's, I mean, Lucy said this a little bit earlier, but like, you know, part of, part of being a writer, a huge part of being a writer is being by yourself, you know, is, is sitting in a room alone and coming up with imaginary people to play with, you know. And so I, I loved being a bookseller when I worked at our local bookstore when I was in my 20s and I loved it. I was not very good at it.
- [19:20]
A
What does that mean?
- [19:21]
B
Like the computer. I was never good at looking things up. I don't know. There were just like other people who knew how to do a lot more at the bookstore, but what I knew how to do was talk to people and that's still what I'm best at at the bookstore. But like what happened was that bookstore closed after 35 plus years because the owners wanted to retire. Good for them. And I just had this, I mean it sounds deranged, but I just thought like well, there are only two choices. Like, I can. Either we can move to another neighborhood to be closer to another bookstore, or we can open a bookstore. Like, those were the only two choices that I saw. So we opened a bookstore just to have a place to walk into. You know, like, that's what it's all about. It's my favorite place. Like, it's my favorite kind of place. When I travel. I'm sure this is true for you, Lucy. Like, when I travel, I just go from independent bookstore to independent bookstore.
- [20:23]
D
That's literally how I travel. That's the first thing I look at. I'm like, where are the bookstores?
- [20:29]
A
It's a community hub. I think that's what you're getting at, too. Yeah, I know you mentioned sort of romanticizing the job earlier. Did movies like you've Got Mail play into that at all? Was it a rude awakening when you opened the store the first week?
- [20:45]
B
Well, I mean, you've Got Mail. Like, I mean, that's a tragedy. Her bookstore closes, that bookstore closes. You know what I mean? Yeah, but. Yeah, I mean, I guess I. Yes. I was probably thinking, you know, Meg Ryan, cute haircut, cute little outfit kind of stuff.
- [21:05]
A
I mean, you are kind of giving Meg Ryan vibes today.
- [21:08]
D
It's true.
- [21:10]
A
Lucy, doesn't she have the haircut?
- [21:11]
D
No, I was just. When she's like, cute haircut, I was like, emma, you're kind of doing it right now.
- [21:18]
A
You both are known for being so curatorial, and I think your fans come not just for the atmosphere you create, but definitely for your specific point of view and your taste. I do think that a physical space sometimes has limitations on that space.
- [21:35]
B
Yeah.
- [21:35]
A
So what do each of you look for when you're curating your selections? Because I know you have to be particular. And there's also, like, you're weighing sort of bestseller lists and what's going to sell versus what you want to put in front of people. How do you go about deciding?
- [21:50]
D
It's a really interesting process, especially, like you said, for the supply chain and logistics. For a retail space, you're limited in the actual amount of space that you can fill and adjust. So for us, we really focus on not keeping so much stock. And so our inventory fully rotates pretty frequently. Like, I think we have a full rotation of inventory once every couple of months or something like that. So it's. It's pretty frequent for us. And so we're always looking at new titles. And I think that's what we offer people is in general, our store is focused on immigrant stories and writers of color. But there's so much range in that, there's so much translated fiction that you can bring into that. How do you want to extend what an immigrant story means and the breadth of availability for that kind of literature? And what I want to offer people is for them to come in every week and see a bunch of new titles that they've never seen before. I personally am someone that's fairly offline and I'm not someone who chases trends, so I don't ever look at bestsellers lists. And I also don't really follow what's popular out there. We have a really intuitive curation process where we understand where our taste is and our taste is focusing on language and stories that really push apart the layers of perception and get to the core of what it means to live in this person's brain or live in this story. And that goes beyond what's popular. And I think there's this chasing of popularity, especially in publishing, like with book talk and how that's gotten so popular, this chasing of that. And when you chase trends, by the time you get up to it, the trend has changed. So I, I feel like for us it's this, what is a trend and what makes something long lasting. And the longevity of taste is something that we really prioritize.
- [23:53]
A
That's very cool to hear. Emma's snapping. She's giving you the silent Gen Z snaps with her fingers. Emma, how do you go about it?
- [24:02]
B
Well, you know, we have, so we have two stores now and the stores are like about a 15 minute walk from each other. One is in Cobble Hill and one is in Brooklyn Heights. And I would say before we opened the second store, I would have said like it's pretty much the same neighborhood. Like it's, it's really not that different. But it turns out it really is different.
- [24:27]
A
That's interesting.
- [24:28]
B
So the second store has been open for three years now and it's been really interesting to be like, oh, okay, okay. So like we sell way more, it's just a little bit older, like the, the crowd that comes in. I mean we have all our, all of our events there. So like all of our people are in that store all the time, but, but it's a little bit older. And so like we sell so many more mysteries at the second store than we do at the first store. Not to say that we don't sell any, but just like it's just, it's interesting. Or we sell more biographies. We think about that a little bit as we're as. Like, I'm ordering for the store. I mean, we've always been like. I mean, I don't want to say, like, anti old white man writers, because there are a lot of old white man writers that I love and that we have on our shelves all the time. But we really wanted that not to be the num. Like, when you look at a stack, like, that's not what you're going to see at books or Magic. And I mean, I'm 45 now, so, like, I don't feel that young anymore. But I think we are still a young store and we have a lot of young customers and young readers. They are like, you know, we sell so much. We have a whole section of translated literature at both stores. You know, we had to make our poetry section bigger. Like, they are so smart, cool readers.
- [25:59]
A
What is the secret sauce of a title really selling well? Is it placement ever?
- [26:03]
B
It sure can be. I don't know about you, Lucy, but, like, for us, there will be a book, you know, that we have on the shelf that we sell, like, you know, a couple copies of a year, and then if we, like, put a big stack of it right next to the register, all of a sudden we're selling 20 copies a week, you know, and we're like, oh, right, merchandising. Because we don't. I don't. It's not the way that I came to the store, like, thinking about, like, a mercenary sales perspective. I mean, does that ever surprise you, Lucy, when you move a book around and you're like, oh, that's. That's all. You just didn't see it before.
- [26:38]
D
Oh, my gosh. Merchandising is its own art. And displaying, especially in a retail space, is such a art in and of itself and the organization. And I think when I look at a space, I block it in terms of colors and block it in terms of lighting so that you can kind of gravitate towards different energy. Like, if a space in ours has warmer lighting, then maybe we have certain titles in there that matches with that vibe in that corner. And just micro climates like that in the store is something that we consider. Another thing is we're really adamant about shelf talkers. It is a lie that people don't judge a book by its cover. People 100% judge books by its cover, myself included. And it's hard not to look at art on a book cover and try to connect to it and try to connect to that book. So sometimes we don't know if a certain book is gonna connect to someone in the same way that the story intends, just because different people have different perspectives and different tastes in art. So writing that shelf talker and having. We have a whole row. I know, Emma, you have this at your store, too. Of staff picks. And each of those has a shelf talker, too. And we rotate those out, honestly, all the time.
- [27:56]
B
Yeah.
- [27:57]
A
I love that you do that. I've. I've seen or I've gone into bookstores that have, like, staff recommendation cards, and I think all those personal touches just make such a huge difference.
- [28:09]
Is there a book that has caused a ton of debate within your store?
- [28:16]
D
Um, not a ton of debate, but it's kind of become a running joke of mine because one of my staff picks that keeps getting sold the second it's put out there is Adult Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers.
- [28:30]
A
The amount of people that have recommended that book to me, Lucy. And that. I don't have a narcissistic. Narcissistic mother. I just want to put that out there. But it's a very popular book nowadays.
- [28:40]
D
It's really funny. So it toggles between that and adult children of emotionally immature people, parents, which I think is, like. I mean, should show you where I am in my investigation of self. But I think that that kind of hilarious, like, inner child healing is where I am. And it's kind of like a curveball psychiatry staff pick that gets just sold so quickly. So it's just. It's becoming this running joke that I choose these kind of niche psychiatry books as my staff picks.
- [29:12]
A
I heard that the Artist's way. I heard that all bookstores have to stop the Artist's Way because people constantly want it.
- [29:18]
B
Oh, yeah. I mean, there are so many books like that where, like, you know, whether it's the Artist's Way or like, Bird by Bird or, you know, things like that. Where, like, you as a. As a bookstore owner might be like. But, like, everyone has that book already. But no, no, like, there are always more people. There are always. There's also, like, a book about back pain that's like that. There's about quitting smoking this. Like that. I don't think we carry the smoking one. But, like, do you know what the books. I mean, Lucy, that with. Where it's like, sometimes there are just like.
- [29:51]
D
Yeah, they.
- [29:52]
B
What do they call. They call them genre killers. Where it's like, there is one book that you need so for, like, about creativity or whatever, it would be the Artist way. But where. Where like any other book in that category you're like, well, who cares? Nobody's gonna buy these other ones because we have the one.
- [30:11]
A
Right? Because you guys have such community oriented spaces. I'm wondering if you've had any, like bookstore matchmaking or weddings. Have, like, there been any. You're. Yeah. Yes. You're nodding.
- [30:23]
B
Yeah.
- [30:24]
A
People have met at the store.
- [30:25]
B
We've had it all.
- [30:26]
D
A lot of engagements, a lot of proposals, and we, we kind of in our group chat where like every time it happens, we've text each other and we're like, everyone, act natural. Like, don't give anything away. And how amazing is this? It's. It's the best. I mean, it's like so cool to see someone decide that the store is somewhere where they want to, like, kind of be the point of their next journey with someone else. And. Yeah, yeah.
- [30:54]
B
But also, like, I mean, we've had a bunch. We've had a bunch of all of that. But my favorite is like, I ran into this friend of mine from college and she was like, oh, I just went on a first date or just went on a first date at your store.
- [31:10]
A
Yeah.
- [31:10]
B
And I was like, oh, that's cool. And she was like, well, because it's safe, you know, it's like a safe place to meet a stranger. You know, it's. It's lit. It's staffed by like smart, attentive people who will definitely notice if something bad is happening. But yeah, no, so we've had that. We've had proposals, engagements. We had, we had one engagement that was amazing. This woman. Oh my God, I love this woman forever. She was proposing to her girlfriend and she set it up so far in advance. She was like, this is what I need. Can we do this? I want to come in after, like after you're closed. She set up all these fake candles, you know, you don't want to fire in the bookstore.
- [31:58]
D
It's true.
- [31:59]
B
Like all these fake candles. It's true.
- [32:01]
D
Can confirm.
- [32:02]
B
And we have like a, you know, cameras, like security cameras or whatever. So my husband and I were at home watching on the cameras as like, you know, she, like all their other friends are hiding in the back and her girlfriend comes in and, you know, she's down on one knee and yada, yada. So great. We write to them the next day and she said, my girlfriend proposed to me the day before, but. So they were already engaged. But she was like, but I had spent so much time planning it that I just did it anyway.
- [32:36]
D
That's so funny.
- [32:38]
A
They had to have their moment. Oh, my God, I love that so much.
- [32:43]
C
So good.
- [32:43]
A
I mean, I think it just. It just speaks to the fact that you've become this community hub for people. They want their memories made there. That's so special.
- [32:53]
D
I love curating the song playlist. When I see a first date go down too, I'm like, what should I do? Like, kiss me by Sixpence non the rich. Like, you know what. What would we do? What do we do here? Mazzy Star? You know.
- [33:08]
A
I ask our guests every week about what they've bookmarked. So I'm excited to ask both of you something that you've sent your friend on Instagram or a weird fact or a fun quote. What's. What's something that you've bookmarked this week? Lucy?
- [33:24]
D
Yeah, I. I've been really reading a lot of poetry recently. So I have been digging around and just seeing random niche poetry collections that, like, probably aren't in print anymore, because most poetry collections, they print out, like, 50 copies, and they just exist in the ether. And a lot of the ones that I've been reading have been really integrated into, like, nature, like, very Mary Oliver adjacent. There's, like, this random poetry collection that I got, like, New York, I love you, and there's, like, asymmetry, and I think there's this. This energy of, like, a buzz of chaos and complexity that someone's trying to regurgitate and also, like, digest and process in the poetry that I'm gravitating towards. So I've just been a little bit deep in that. And also, I've been really, really loving. Mother Mary comes to me right now. That is just. Oh, my God. Yeah, that book has really, really done it for me.
- [34:32]
A
Emma, what have you bookmarked this week?
- [34:35]
B
We're hosting Margaret Atwood tonight, and I am the lucky person who gets to talk to her. And so I have been, like, eyeball deep in Margaret Atwood all week, and I just finished her memoir, which is.
- [34:56]
So hardcore. Like.
- [35:00]
So hardcore. Like, Margaret Atwood. When I imagined her before reading this book, I was like, yeah, like, you know, she writes amazing poetry. She writes amazing novels. She's like, a badass lady. But I had no idea how badass this lady is. She and her husband lived on a farm in Canada for decades, and there is so much blood in this book. Like, there's just, like, farm life. Like, she is not afraid of anything. This woman knows how to wield a knife, and she is just not afraid. I'm afraid because I have to ask her questions. But, like, how cool. She is tough and I'm just trying to channel as much Margaret Atwood as I can basically for the rest of my life.
- [35:51]
A
You're putting your armor on for 2026. I love that.
- [35:55]
B
Exactly.
- [36:02]
A
At Just Roll they believe the kitchen is where joy lives with their refrigerated dough. There's no fussy proofing, no hours of waiting. Just big smells, big smiles and that first irresistible flaky bite. It's tiny hands helping unroll the dough. It's laughing over a slightly wonky cinnamon swirl. It's pulling golden puffed layers out of the oven and hearing that perfect crispy crackle. They do the hard part so you could skip straight to the fun Just Roll Puff Pastry is made with non GMO high quality ingredients ready to roll with parchment paper straight from the fridge. No thawing, no stress, just golden bakery worthy layers every single time. With Just Roll, Every bake is simple. From savory show stopping appetizers to sweet dessert masterpieces, this is a fresh way to bake. Familiar but better find Just Roll Puff Pastry in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or visit justroll.com to find a store near you Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton. We spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and with characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you? In the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for lazy weekend mornings with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like the books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into our everyday moments. Moments like following four adult daughters as they navigate love, loss, and the legacy in the Most Fun We Ever had by Claire Lombardo, all while curled up in soft cotton. Joggers or sinking into the island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. A story that spans generations. Forbidden love and a fig tree that remembers everything wrapped in a hand stitched quilt, each thread holding its own kind of memory. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton. The fabric of our lives. Learn more@thefabricofourlives.com.
- [38:11]
C
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Apple Books is the best place to read, listen to or discover the books you love without a subscription right on your iPhone. And now there's a very exciting heads up for listeners. Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club, so it's easier than ever to explore each monthly book pick, plus author curated collections and more all in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set goals and track your reading progress. Get great recommendations for your next read or listen and enjoy it all on the go wherever you are. You can even share your books with up to five family members at no cost. Again, no subscription required. Visit Apple co reeseapplebooks to find out more. That's Apple co reeseapplebooks and read or listen to Reese's current Pick and browse past selections today on Apple Books.
- [39:39]
E
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- [40:23]
A
I think today we're going to get so many recommendations from both of you, so I want all of our listeners to get their notepads open and ready. Lucy, I want to know what your 2025 most popular fiction books have been.
- [40:41]
D
Our most popular fictions this year have definitely been Martyr Rejection, A Village beyond the Mist is really popular at our store. We're seeing a huge rise also, Emma, in mysteries and a lot of Japanese translated mysteries that have been really, I mean, strange pictures, strange houses, just to name a few.
- [41:04]
A
Yes.
- [41:05]
D
And that's gotten really popular. I think horror has gotten really popular as well, especially translated horror and novella horror. And I think it's because the world is a little bit horrific and we need to figure out a way to get to processing that circuitously and maybe mystery is the route to do that. And yeah, I think, you know, rejection is such a chaotic story and it's also so visceral. But if you really peel down the layers. It's actually very vulnerable. It's a very vulnerable part of what it means to strip back all the layers and be like, this is like me in all my 365 complex glory. And even with the characters that you really despise, sometimes in it, you kind of despise them because you relate to them. So I think that that's kind of where our fiction trends are going mostly.
- [42:02]
A
Emma, how about for your two stories?
- [42:04]
B
Yeah, I mean, like, I agree, I agree. Like strange houses we sold. I was looking through our bestseller list and we sold this book called Murder on Sex Island. Do you wait, or is it Sex on Murder Island?
- [42:21]
D
What are the other truly unhinged?
- [42:23]
B
Either way, Murder on Sex island, which, like, is. I mean, it's like a fun, campy mystery novel. Like we. It was on our bestseller list for months. Months. Like people could not get enough.
- [42:42]
A
Did you have any other surprising bestsellers, Emma?
- [42:46]
B
I mean, I would say, like, our bestsellers tend to be something that we have big events for, but the books that we have sold the most copies of that we did not have events for. I would say, like Audition by Katie Kitamura. She's my friend and I don't think that she would mind if I objectified her in this way. She's just like the coolest, most beautiful person in the world. That's just a fact. And the book is so interesting and destabilizing and I think it's like, I think people are responding to it. Lucy, for exactly what you were saying about horror. It's not a horror novel at all, but like, it is unsettling. And I think that, yeah, we're all so unsettled, so why not, like, why not dive in? And the other book that we've been selling just like hand over fist, that I can tell is just going to continue for us in that sort of word of mouth way is Heart the Lover by Lily King.
- [43:52]
Which, oh my God. I mean, it's the book for like every person who has a former love that they still think about.
- [44:07]
You don't have to raise your hands, but like, you know, just in case. Just in case. Every single person on the planet has one of those, you know what I mean? And it is like for.
- [44:17]
A
Your husband's not listening to the podcast.
- [44:18]
B
Don't worry, he knows, he knows, he knows. It starts out as this like youthful college, sexy romance, whatever. And then it plunges you into like middle aged reality and death. And so you. The experience of reading it is this like and then you're just crying. You're just crying for, like, the last 50 pages. Incredible.
- [44:43]
D
Okay. I'm super excited to read it because I haven't read it yet, but do you think the second half of it is all fours coded? No.
- [44:50]
B
Okay. I don't think so. I don't think so because it's like. It's not. I mean, I do think, like, we have seen, like, a huge spike in, like.
- [45:01]
Middle age, divorce, sexual.
- [45:06]
Like, awakening, rejiggering. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. There's a lot of that, for sure. But this one, it's, like, hurt the lover. It's much sweeter than that. Like, it's much like. It's like, I love my husband. I love my life. My life is hard. My life is complicated. This person is complicated, and I love them. Like, it's not tender.
- [45:27]
A
Would you consider this as part, like, part of a sub genre or. No?
- [45:34]
B
I mean, there's definitely a sub genre happening right now of, like, divorced lady getting, like, How Stella gets her groove back. Yeah, for sure. Yeah.
- [45:43]
A
We were thinking the same thing.
- [45:46]
B
There is. There is. And those can be really fun.
- [45:49]
A
Are there any other sub genres you see trending in your store, Lucy?
- [45:53]
D
I think it's kind of related to that. It's this reckoning of self and a reckoning of our reality. So whether that happens in early coming of age, middle coming of age, or late coming of age, I think this. I mean, Bildungsromans are always in. But this particular reckoning with what our reality is and how we want to invest in our reality and selves, I think is this, like, really growing subgenre in fiction that relates to all the bestsellers that I've seen?
- [46:22]
A
How many books have each of you read this year? No pressure. I'm just curious.
- [46:28]
B
I mean, I do keep a list. I didn't count. I think I'm at about, like, 50 or so right now.
- [46:39]
A
Amazing, because you're also running a business. I know, like, part of your business is to read, but it's. It's also the business is the business, too. That's really impressive, you know.
- [46:50]
B
I mean, thank you, I guess. But, like, when I am in my bookstore, all I see are books I haven't read. You know what I mean? Like, I feel like I'm always looking around and I'm always like, oh, God, my man. Like, there are so many books that are out now that I want to read. And, I mean, and this is not a bad feeling, but I feel like I'm spending my whole life Catching up on all those books.
- [47:15]
A
I get bookstore anxiety because I look around and I'm like, there's so much I haven't read and so much I don't know. And I'm never going to have time to dig into all of this.
- [47:24]
B
Yeah, yeah. But we all feel that way, every single one of us.
- [47:29]
D
I think that's the beauty of it, that it's always going to be unfinished. And I think similarly, I've read around 60 books this year, and it's. It's tough to do at the same time. But also, I can't really live my life and not read. And I feel the same way. I go inside my store every day and I'm like, there's so many books out here that I haven't even. That are, like, so much further down my list because my list just gets longer. And I think that's the. The great joy of unfinished reading.
- [47:59]
A
I got to exhale when you said that. Thank you for reframing it. That way. I see why people come into your bookstore and feel like they can take a breath.
- [48:08]
B
Yeah. Well, also, Danielle, if you want another breath.
- [48:13]
Perhaps you already know this. I imagine you do, but you also don't have to finish something if you don't like it. Like, I went through too many decades of my life.
- [48:27]
Finishing every book, whether or not I was enjoying it, and I do not do that anymore. Like, if I am not loving a book, then it's done. Like, I don't have the time to waste on a book that I don't want to be reading.
- [48:44]
A
That's a good rule. I know. I do have sort of this feeling like I have to get to the end. What if I'm missing the good part? So, yeah, that is a double breath. Thank you for that, Emma. You guys, we usually wrap our convos with something called speed read, but I thought we'd put a twist on it this time. It's the holiday gift giving season, and a perfectly chosen book is one of my favorite presents. I'm guessing you all feel the same way. So I thought we'd do a little mini gift guide with you, our absolute experts. And we actually asked our bookmark listeners to tell us who they are shopping for. And. And they gave us some very specific requests. I would expect nothing less from them. They're amazing. So I'm hoping you'll do your best to pair their requests with a book. Are you ready for this? It's the ultimate challenge. Okay, here we go. From Kat. Literary fiction related to the Christmas season.
- [49:38]
B
Okay, wait I have one. So.
- [49:42]
Sierra Simone and.
- [49:47]
Julie Murphy, I believe it is, have a series of extremely sexy, like. Like, I would say three to four chili pepper romances that are like jingle bell.
- [50:04]
That are Christmas themed, which sounds like it shouldn't work together, but it really does. It really does. Like, extremely steamy. Extremely steamy romance. I mean, I guess she asked for something literary, but, like, that is the first Christmas book that came to mind. And honestly, she probably needs it. Yeah.
- [50:22]
D
I think in general, during the holiday season, people just want to feel cozy. So maybe days at the Murasaki bookshop as an option. Or we'll prescribe you a cat. That's a really good one. And if you want to go for memoir, I really like.
- [50:40]
I don't know, for the holidays. This is kind of a wild one to throw in the wrench, but young me, mayors. I'm laughing because I'm crying. If you want to prep for a holiday that you can read that by yourself while you're with family, but that could be like your own little thing.
- [50:58]
A
That is a wild one to throw in. Okay. Interesting.
- [51:01]
B
I like it.
- [51:02]
A
Jacques asks. Historical fiction served with a side of romance.
- [51:06]
B
Ooh, ooh.
- [51:07]
D
Taiwan Travelogue is a really good one.
- [51:13]
B
I would say. My favorite historical fiction that I feel like not enough people have read is the Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead. It's like, I love this Amelia Earhart. Basically. It is just.
- [51:30]
A
It's.
- [51:30]
B
It's one of the best books. Best, best books of the last hundred years. Like, I just. I love it, and I don't think enough people have read it.
- [51:38]
A
I'm gonna throw in. I'm gonna throw in an original, which is Tale of Two Cities. Next up, Sophia is looking for books that take place in Europe that focus on culture and architecture. I like this one.
- [51:51]
B
Oh, God. Oh, God.
- [51:53]
D
Maybe this was recently translated. It's called A Couple.
- [52:00]
By.
- [52:04]
Oh, my gosh. Emely. I think I forgot the name, but it's. It just got translated this last month and it's translated for French and it talks about just a little. It go. Looks at a couple and current day and goes 30 days, 30 years backwards with every chapter. And I've really loved that. And it talks about how they've lost their memory over time and certain parts of Paris and their architecture brings them back to different memories.
- [52:33]
B
Wow. Thank you. Good job, Lucy. Amazing, amazing.
- [52:37]
A
Emma, do you have any?
- [52:38]
B
No, no. Literally, not one thing. Thank God Lucy's here.
- [52:42]
A
Okay, that's fair. And I appreciate your honesty. Eileen is wondering about books with a Female protagonist in her 50s or 60s.
- [52:50]
D
Mother Mary comes to Me is a really, really good one. The New Gish. Jen. If you're looking to look at some mommy issues in a anachronistic way, that's a really good one, too.
- [53:05]
B
Maria Semple has a new book that's coming out in April called Go Gentle that is about a woman in her 50s, maybe 60s. And my favorite part of it is that she, this woman and like three of her neighbors on their hall in this. In the same apartment building, right? They go grocery shopping together because they're like, well, we don't need a dozen eggs. But you take four, I'll take four, and I'll take four. You know, like it's. They, they've divvied things up. It's like they call themselves the Coven. That's one that I. Oh.
- [53:46]
A
I always tell all of my girlfriends that I love that I feel like we were in the same coven back in the day.
- [53:52]
B
Yeah.
- [53:52]
A
Okay. Eli. Eli needs a heart wrenching love story. No happily ever after. Oh.
- [54:00]
B
I mean, I would say heart. Heart the lover, like really does really like, I think will do. You just find Eli. But I'll try to think of other ones too. Lucy, what you got?
- [54:09]
D
I haven't read it yet, so I can't tell you if for certain positive or negative. Happy Ending. The Great Reclamation is really good. And that's also falls within the historical fiction plus romance category for previous recommendation.
- [54:25]
And a not happy. I mean, if you want to read a little life.
- [54:31]
That'S always an option.
- [54:35]
A
Okay. Fernanda is looking for a really good Sapphic romance.
- [54:40]
D
Oh, man.
- [54:42]
B
Oh, wait here. So my. One of my good friends is a romance writer named Jasmine Guillory, and her first Sapphic romance came out this year. It's called Flirting Lessons. And it's so good. It's so good. So many of her. Most of her books take place like in California in like sort of wine country, like, beautiful place. Like, you're just. You're so happy to be there anyway, like, eating and drinking. What these characters are eating and drinking. And then it's like a sexy romance, too.
- [55:14]
A
I love that. And Jasmine Guillory is such a beloved Reese's Book Club author.
- [55:19]
D
I'm making sure I have the titles correct. But maybe Bon Me for Two by Trinity Nguyen. That's like a really cute young adult Sapphic romance. There's also Carmilla, which is a novella slash horror, but it's very sapphic, very lesbian, very exciting.
- [55:39]
And other. All this could be different. Sarah, think of Matthews. Really, really good. Talks about early 20s, going through the Midwest, discovering identity, discovering, you know, sexuality and everything.
- [55:50]
A
And last but not least, Molly says, I'm looking for a friend who doesn't read and hasn't read since school but wants to get into reading. So basically an intro to books, probably something fast paced. And a page turner, any genre. Ooh, this is fun.
- [56:04]
B
I got it. I got it. Okay. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel. It's short. It's so short, it's probably 200 pages. And it's true crime. It's true crime. So if this person is into true crime TV shows or podcasts or whatever, they will love the Art Thief. If they're like, oh, my God, the Louvre was not amazing, they'll love the Art Thief. It's about a couple who steal things from museums all around France and they don't get caught for years and years and years because the way people get caught is by reselling things on the black market. But they don't resell anything. They just put it on display in their room and that's it. It's great. Love that one.
- [56:55]
D
I'm excited to read it. I really like recommending the Details by EA Genberg. It's pretty short. It's really good for short attention span right now, I think, which everyone's struggling with. But she writes with such a rich and developed first person perspective that talks about short stories of all these people that have deeply affected her life in terms of friendship. And to dive that deeply within a complex relationship with another person in such kind of short increments between stories that are loosely related just make you feel connected to the character. And my hot take is just like, people aren't into reading because they haven't figured out a book that works for them. So I think that's a really good one that kind of just like sucks you right in into a first person narrative.
- [57:45]
A
Okay, Emma, Lucy, it has been so much fun spending time with you. I've spent time in both of your bookstores and it just, it's almost surreal getting to talk to you face to face. So thank you for this.
- [57:56]
B
Thank you.
- [57:57]
D
So excited to be here.
- [58:01]
A
Okay, friends, before we wrap today's episode, it's time for Turn up the Story. It's our monthly audiobook segment brought to you by Apple Books.
- [58:12]
So Apple Books editors are always reading and listening, so they can bring you their favorite new finds every month. But this time of year, it's like awards season for book lovers where everyone's buzzing about which stories will make the cut of Apple Books coveted Best of lists. You can trust that Apple editors are knee deep in this year's astounding collection, looking back on everything they've read and heard in 2025. The end result? Two lists. Okay, the Best Books of the Year and the Best Audiobooks of the Year. Here's the thing. Only 20 titles make each list. 20. That's it. So that means these are the books and the audiobooks. The Apple Books editors cannot stop talking about their most unforgettable reads across every genre. Fiction, non fiction, romance, thrillers, memoir, fantasy and more. Now, I'm not giving away spoilers. I know my fellow bookmark listeners love a good year end list, but trust me, these picks are worth a spot on your tbr. The full Best Books and Best Audiobooks of the Year lists are available now on Apple Books at Apple Co BestBooks2025. That's Apple Co BestBooks2025.
- [59:36]
And if you want a little bit more from us, come hang with us on socials. We're at Reese's Book Club on Instagram serving up books, vibes and behind the scenes magic. And I'm Danielle Robay. R O B A Y Come say hi and DM me. And if you want to go 90s on us, you can call us. Okay, so our phone line is open, so call us now at 501-291-3379. That's 501-291-3379. Share your literary hot takes, your book recommendations. Ooh. Please share those and questions about the monthly pick or just let us know what you think about the episode you just heard. And who knows, you might just hear yourself in our next episode. So don't be shy, give us a ring. And of course, make sure to follow Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows. Until then, see you in the next chapter. Bookmarked is a production of Hello Sunshine and iHeart podcasts. It's executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and me, Danielle Robay. Production is by Acast Creative Studios. Our producers are Maddie Foley, Brittany Martinez and Sarah Schlied. Our production assistant is Avery Loftus. Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutter are the executive producers for Acast Creative Studios. Maureen Polo and Reese Witherspoon are the executive producers for hello Sunshine. Olga Kaminwa, Sarah Kernerman, Kristin Perla and Ashley Rapoport are associate producers for Reese's Book Club. Ally Perry and Lauren Hanson are the executive producers for iHeart podcasts.
- [61:16]
Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton we spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you? In the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for a lazy weekend morning with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into everyday moments. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives. Learn more at thefabricofourlives.com@just roll they believe the kitchen is where joy lives with their refrigerated dough. There's no fussy proofing, no hours of waiting, just big smells, big smiles and that first irresist flaky bite. They do the hard part so you could skip straight to the fun. Just Roll Puff Pastry is made with non GMO high quality ingredients ready to roll with parchment paper straight from the fridge. No thawing, no stress, just golden bakery worthy layers every single time. With Just Roll, every bake is simple. From savory show stopping appetizers to sweet dessert masterpieces, this is a fresh way to bake. Familiar but better. Find Just Roll Puff Pastry in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or visit justroll.com to find a store near you. Apple Books is the best way to read or listen to the books you love without a subscription right on your iPhone and a heads up for listeners. Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club so you can discover every exciting pick plus author curated collections and more all in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set and track your reading goals and get great recommendations for your next read or listen again. No subscription required. Visit Apple Co Reese that's R E E S E Applebooks to find out more.
- [63:25]
B
The Chase Inc. Business Premier card is made for people who make things happen.
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D
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B
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E
Card Chase for Business make more of what's yours. Real business owner compensated for their participation. Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase bank and a member FDIC subject to credit approval. Terms apply.
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F
This is Eva Longoria from Hungry for History with Eva Longoria and Maite Gomez Rejon. Like the song says, it's the most wonderful time of the year and also a wonderfully busy one. All that merriment can weigh down even Santa's sleigh. So keep it wonderful by keeping yourself wonderful with a crisp, cold Coca Cola. Ah, pause for fizzy joy. Look out for yourself and then look out for everyone else. And together we'll make this season as wonderful as it's meant to be. Enjoy a Coca Cola Refresh your holidays.
- [64:28]
A
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [64:31]
B
Guaranteed Human.