In our October Book Club episode, the Unabridged Podcast is diving into Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm). Join Ashley and Jen as they discuss this gripping novel set in 1840s Mexico, where Nena, the daughter of a rancher, faces a sinister threat that lurks near her home, draining men of their blood. After being attacke…

Are you looking for some spooky reads to get you in the Halloween spirit? We’re back with our 2024 spooky recommendations, perfect for curling up with as the nights get longer. Whether you’re in the mood for dark fairy tales or eerie adventures, we’ve got two books that will give you chills! In this episode, Ashley recommends Melissa Albert’s The H…

Have you ever wondered what family secrets are hiding just below the surface? In this episode, Jen and Ashley dive into Jas Hammonds' stunning debut, We Deserve Monuments. As seventeen-year-old Avery navigates the tension between her mother and her terminally ill grandmother, we unpack the complex relationships, hidden histories, and simmering trut…

We're back with Season 8 of Unabridged: A Book Podcast! Join us for a special "Get to Know the Hosts" episode where we catch up on their summer adventures, bookish highlights, and what’s been keeping them inspired. Whether you’re a long-time listener or new to the podcast, this episode offers a personal look at the people behind the mic. Tune in no…

Are you looking for a cozy mystery with a lot of spilled tea? Be sure to join us as we read and discuss Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) as our June 2024 book club pick! This cozy mystery is a perfect summer read that will warm your heart despite the dead body at its center. We're continuing …

Are you looking for quick reads to breeze through this summer? We're bringing you recommendations for short books to put on your TBR stack (our in your audiobook queue!) for this summer. If you're looking for more short book recommendations, be sure to check out our popular blog post, "9 Great Short Books to Kick Off Your 2024 Reading Goals." We're…

Are you looking for a book written from an unusual perspective for the 2024 Unabridged Reading Challenge? Henry Hoke's Open Throat, a young adult novel in verse written from the perspective of a mountain lion living in LA, certainly meets the requirements for that category. This is a fast, compelling read that addresses many social issues from a un…

How do you find book clubs and buddy reads to join? Jen and Ashley dig into the ways to get involved with book clubs (online and in real life) and buddy reads. If you're doing the 2024 Unabridged Reading Challenge with us, participating in a new book club or buddy read is a category on the list! Be sure to tune in to hear how to expand your reading…

Have you read Nella Larsen's Passing (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), a brilliant classic written in 1929? If you haven't read this stellar (short!) book, take time to do that and then join us for the discussion. We share our pairing recommendations as well, including Toni Morrison’s Sula (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) and Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half (B…

Are you joining us for the 2024 Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge? For one of the categories, we're focusing on books that were published before 1950, so we wanted to share some recommendations for that category on today's episode. Listen in to hear us talk about Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) and Jan…

Have you read a middle grade novel in verse recently? This month, we're reading Jasmine Warga’s Other Words for Home (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), which is perfect for the Unabridged Reading Challenge 2024 category featuring a middle grade novel in verse. Jen and Ashley discuss the book club pick and share our pairings including Thanhhà Lai’s Inside O…

Are you looking for a great middle grade book that highlights equestrian sports and mental health challenges? Listen in to hear author Sarah Ward share about her debut middle grade novel Victory Gallop, which is available exclusively on Amazon. Jen and Ashley talk with Sarah about her inspiration for the novel and her passion for the writing she's …

Are you looking for a teen coming-of-age love story set in the Australian bush? This month, we're discussing Gary Lonesborough's Ready When You Are (Bookshop.org), which is a YA romance that is perfect for our Unabridged Reading Challenge category Romance by an Indigenous Author. We also share our pairings including Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper (Boo…

Are you looking for romance recommendations to read this February? We've got some new recommendations for you as we return with our annual Love is in the Air episode. We'll share about our picks for this year's edition, including Kacen Callender’s Stars in Your Eyes (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) and Jacqueline Firkins’s The Predictable Heartbreaks of I…

Jen and Ashley read and discuss Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, Little Women (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm). This one is perfect for the Unabridged Reading Challenge category about a classic written before 1950! Check out our reading challenge here. We also share our pairings including Hena Khan’s More to the Story (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) and Geral…

What are your reading challenge plans for 2024? We're excited to launch the fourth annual Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge. Ashley and Jen are also each participating in other reading challenges as well, and we share those with you in the episode. If you're looking to reach some new reading goals this year, reading challenges are a great way to…

What happens when a nine-year-old girl decides she's determined to sing at Philadelphia's renowned jazz club? Marie-Helene Bertino's 2 AM at the Cat’s Pajamas (Libro.fm) is the story of Madeleine Altimari and other people all trying to reach their goals on the eve of Christmas Eve. Listen in to hear our thoughts and our pairings for this book club …

In our annual Unabridged Awards episode, Jen and Ashley share awards we created for some of our favorite books from 2023. We each share three books in this episode, but if you're interested in more of our favorites, be sure to also check out this month's Bookish Fave posts on our blog. Patreon pals, be on the lookout for additional awards coming yo…

Have you read Elliot Page's brilliant new memoir, Pageboy (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)? Jen and Ashley are discussing our thoughts about this powerful book in the November book club episode. We also share our pairings, including George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) and Kacen Callendar’s Felix Ever After (Bookshop.org | Li…

What are some of your favorite books by indigenous authors? We wanted to share a couple of books we've loved recently that are by indigenous authors including Sonora Reyes’s The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) and Angeline Boulley’s Warrior Girl Unearthed (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm). Let us know your recommendations! In …

Are you looking for a ghost story that also explores important social issues? Our October 2023 Unabridged book club pick, Trang Thanh Tran’s She Is a Haunting (Bookshop.org), is a young adult horror novel set in Vietnam and explores the lasting impact of colonialism on the country. Listen in to hear our thoughts about this debut novel and check out…

What spooky reads are you adding to your TBR list this year? Ashley and Jen share our recommendations for 2023 including Zoraida Córdova’s The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) and Isabel Cañas’s The Hacienda (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm). If you'd like more recommendations, don't miss our Spooky Reads episodes from the past few …

What do you know about Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican Republic? For our September book club pick, Jen and Ashley discuss Julia Alvarez's classic book In the Time of the Butterflies (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), which is a historical fictional account of the four Mirabal sisters. We also share our pairings including Mario Vargas Llosa’s The F…

Do you enjoy book recommendations from friends? In episode 249, Ashley and Jen each picked a book for the other to read, which is one of the categories for the Unabridged Reading Challenge this year. To kick off season 7 of the podcast, Jen and Ashley circle back to the books we've recommended for each other, and we share our thoughts after having …

Are you looking for a serial killer thriller with profound social commentary? Michael Bennett’s Better the Blood (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) is propulsive and leaves the reader with many things to consider. For our June Unabridged book club, we're discussing Better the Blood, which is perfect for the 2023 Unabridged Reading Challenge, where it can co…