By popular demand, we took Flashback Summer to the land of Tortall. Rebecca Kim Wells, author of Briar Girls and other great queer fantasy books, joined us to discuss Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce. Put on your purple contact lenses and listen to this episode while you study the blade. Readers advisory: Here. Footnotes: Tamora Pierce name pronunciation Tamora Pierce’s statement on J.K. Rowling Coming up next: Stacey and the Bad Girls (Baby-Sitters Club #87) by Ann M. Martin ..read more

We were digging through some boxes in our totally not-haunted attic and found Stonewords by Pam Conrad. It seemed like a chill Flashback Summer vibe, so we had our friend KL join us to discuss it. Be careful not to play this episode around your secret ghost friend–they might get jealous! Readers advisory: Here. Footnotes: Pam Conrad’s obituary. Coming up next: Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce ..read more

  Flashback summer, eh? Ann Foster of Vulgar History joined us to read No Coins, Please, an early work by the venerable Canadian author Gordon Korman. Listen to this episode while driving cross-country with a van full of chaotic tweens! Readers advisory: Here. Footnotes: About Gordon Korman Coming up next: Stonewords by Pam Conrad ..read more

It’s Morphin’ Time! We’re kicking off Flashback Summer Animal Style. We returned to the world of the Animorphs by reading the three books in the iconic David Saga–The Discovery (#20), The Threat (#21) and The Solution (#22), all by K.A. Applegate. We were joined by Moniquill Blackgoose, author of To Shape a Dragon’s Breath. Listen to this episode while driving to the mall to pick up a Cinnabon and/or fight a lion! Readers advisory: Here. Footnotes: Episode 52 – Animorphs #1 Coming up next: No Coins Please by Gordon Korman.   ..read more

We continue Celebrity Memoir May with another wronged woman of the early 00s, Ms. Jessica Simpson. Annie Cardi, author of Red, joined us in righteous indignation on behalf of our favorite former Newlywed after reading her memoir Open Book. Listen to this episode while practicing your Dukes of Hazzard-style stunt driving. Content warnings: Child sexual abuse, substance abuse, publicly being a woman in the early 00s. Readers advisory: Here. Footnotes: “Wait a Sec…Jessica Simpson’s Beloved ‘Cottage’ from Her Memoir Is Literally a Mansion (and J-Law Lives There Now!)” by Dara Katz “Jess ..read more

  Unlike Scientology, Celebrity Memoir May is inescapable. Known Suppressive Person, librarian, and author Angie Manfredi (@MissKubelik) joined us to discuss Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini. Join us as we swear oaths of fealty to the Queen of Queens! Content warning: Verbal abuse, icky parenting, escaping a cult. Readers advisory: Here. Footnotes: “A Strange Chapter in ‘Wog”s Hateful History” The Underground Bunker “Exclusive: Shelly Miscavige and The Missing Scientologists: How The LAPD Made Scientology’s Problem Go Away” by Yashar Ali Leah Rem ..read more

  Horny dragons were fun, but we’ve moved on. Onto another planet, actually. Lily Sparks, author of The Merciless King of Moore High, joined us to discuss Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon. Upload this episode directly to your alien translator earpiece to listen to it in any language! Content warning: Dubious consent and mentions of sexual assault. Readers advisory: Here. Footnotes: “How sexy blue aliens invaded Amazon’s bestseller lists” by AJ Willingham About the Motorcycle Clubs Coming up next: Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini ..read more

Y’all horny for some dragons? We forged a soul bond with comedian, writer, and Scary Mommy Sarah Aswell by reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros together. Listen to this episode while pondering ways to legally murder your classmates! Content warning: Here there be dragons. Also, dead parents. Readers advisory: Here. Footnotes: “How Rebecca Yarros Packed Dragons, Magic and Steamy Sex Into a Blockbuster Fantasy” by Alexandra Alter “Q&A: Rebecca Yarros on Chronic Illness Representation in Fourth Wing” by Riyana Straetker NPR Weekend Edition: “Veronica Roth’s ‘Carve The Mark’ Is A ..read more

  The devil made us read This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti. Fortunately, we were #blessed to be joined by Izzy Wasserstein, author of These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart, who helped safely guide us through this Christian thriller. Listen to this episode while waiting for a cool angel to pick you up on her motorcycle. Content warning: False accusations of sexual assault, Christian fundamentalism, murder/suicide/demon attack. Readers advisory: Here. Footnotes: “This Present Darkness” on Wikipedia “The long history and slow death of a word once used to describe everyone ..read more

Ice, ice, baby! Annie Cardi, author of Red, returned to the podcast to discuss the sexy skater Booktok sensation Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. Join us as we skate back to college and dirty talk our way into the Olympics! Content warning: Disordered eating, gaslighting, emotional abuse. Readers advisory: Here. Footnotes: “Who Is Hannah Grace? And Why Won’t She Show Her Face?” by Elisabeth Egan Coming up next: This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti ..read more