Episoder
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Alli and Abby are BACK for the fifth installment of SSR: WriTing Friends, this time for a conversation with memoirist Molly Roden Winter about the personal, vulnerable, intimate experience of putting one's own story on paper for public consumption. They put their heads together to consider the similarities and differences between writing fiction and writing memoir and tackle some specific aspects of the former: the nature of memory, the ethics of reviewing memoirs, how to edit your personal experience, reading your old journals, having hard conversations, and what we can learn from someone else's story.
Molly's New York Times bestselling debut memoirâMore: A Memoir of Open Marriageâis available wherever books are sold. Follow her on Instagram @mollyrwinter.
CHECK OUT MOLLY'S BOOK HERE!
CHECK OUT MOLLY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION:
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
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On Episode 304, Alli and her guest right the wrong (???) of somehow missing The Catcher in the Rye in their reading lives. In this juicy, thoughtful episode, they consider the book's place in the American canon and on school reading lists everywhere. They chat about sad boy fiction, Holden Caulfield's complicated character and legacy, love bombing, New York City as a character, teen angst, slut shaming, and more.
TW: death by suicide, sexual assault
Beth Kander is a writer with tangled roots in the Midwest and Deep South. Described as a "genre-defying author and playwright" (Oxford American), her work has been called "riveting" and "habit-forming." I Made It Out of Clay is her latest novel. Follow Beth on Instagram @bethkander.
CHECK OUT BETH'S BOOKS:
I Made It Out of Clay
Do Not Eat This Book!
CHECK OUT BETH'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Night Owls by A.R. Vishy
Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
MORE READING:
"Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger â review" (The Guardian, 2012)
"The Meaning of The Catcher in the Rye" (Thought Catalog, 2024)
"Story Skeleton â The Catcher in the Rye" (The Darling Axe, 2023)
"From everyteen to annoying: are today's young readers turning on The Catcher in the Rye?" (The Guardian, 2019)
"He's Not Holden!" (Slate, 2013)
"I Hated Catcher in the Rye As A Teen â But It's Exactly The Book I Needed As An Adult" (Bustle, 2018)
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Manglende episoder?
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It's our first-ever holiday episode! No matter what you celebrate at this time of year, Episode 303 will get your wheels turning as we unpack The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. Alli and her guest chat about the surprisingly religious bent of the book, among other things: the unruly children trope, nativity plays, the book's new adaptation, fatphobia, and disappearing narrators.
Sarai Johnson is the author of Grown Women. Follow her on Instagram @sarajwrites.
CHECK OUT SARAI'S BOOK HERE!
CHECK OUT SARAI'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me by Glory Edim
MORE READING:
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Early Review" (Love Thy Nerd, 2024)
"Review: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson" (The Story Sanctuary, 2020)
"Book Review: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" (A Journey of Words, 2022)
"The Best Christmas Pageant EverâBook Review" (Simply Learning Together, 2022)
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" (Bookology, 2019)
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in Public School?" (Reddit, 2022)
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Weâve covered our fair share of Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefieldâs high school hi-jinx on the podcast, but at long last, Alli and her guest turn their attention to a kinder, softer version of the twins: the middle school sub-series, Sweet Valley Twins. Episode 302 is all about The Curse of the Ruby Necklace, which chronicles the ~super chilling~ journey the twins take when they find their way to a local Hollywood film set and a decades-old family mystery. Guest Sally Franson is a superfan of the series and this book, and the episode is a rollicking good time that celebrates Jess and Liz as sixth graders with questionable detective skills.
Sally Franson is the author of Big in Sweden and A Ladyâs Guide to Selling Out. Follow her on Instagram @sallyjf.
CHECK OUT THE SWEET VALLEY EPISODES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:
Episode 202: Tall, Dark, and Deadly (Sweet Valley High #126) (with Andie J. Christopher)
Episode 289: Alone in the Crowd (Sweet Valley High #28) (with Claire Lombardo)
CHECK OUT SALLYâS BOOKS:
Big in Sweden
A Ladyâs Guide to Selling Out
CHECK OUT SALLYâS BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
Swift River by Essie Chambers
Blood Test: A Comedy by Charles Baxter
Show Donât Tell: Stories by Curtis Sittenfeld
MORE READING:
âMy Erotic Awakening in the Pages of âSweet Valley Highââ (The New York Times, 2024) <â written by our guest!
âThe lasting power of âSweet Valley Twinsâ: How my daughter and I are connecting over the seriesâ (Today, 2024)
âYA Authors Reminisce About the Influence of âSweet Valley Highââ (Publishers Weekly, 2024)
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This week, join Alli and her guest for an exciting voyage to Antarctica⊠and also for a conversation about Troubling a Star by Madeleine LâEngle. The fifth installment in LâEngleâs beloved Austin Family Chronicles series, the book was published in 1994 and explores subjects of espionage, nuclear waste dumping, drug trafficking, and more. Join the fun as we try to unpack all of itâand donât be turned off if youâre not familiar with the story. Alli and Elise both read Troubling a Star, and theyâre still not sure how much they know about it.
Elise Hu is a journalist, podcaster, and entrepreneur. Host of TED Talks Daily and co-host of Forever 35, Elise also recently published Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. Follow her on Instagram @elisewho.
CHECK OUT ELISEâS BOOK HERE!
CHECK OUT OUR PREVIOUS MADELEINE LâENGLE EPISODES:
Episode 15: A Wrinkle in Time
Episode 184: A Ring of Endless Light
CHECK OUT ELISEâS BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
What Looks Like Bravery: An Epic Journey Through Loss to Love by Laurel Braitman
Toward Eternity by Anton Hur
You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
Thick: And Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom
MORE READING:
âTroubling a Star, by Madeleine LâEngleâ (Pickle Me This, 2019)
âTroubling a Star by Madeleine LâEngleâ (Fill Your Bookshelf, 2020)
âTroubling a Starâ (Kirkus, 1994)
âBook Review: Troubling a Star by Madeleine LâEngle (1994)â (Read-at-Home Mom, 2014)
âThe Creepy Authoritarianism of Madeleine LâEngleâ (The Paris Review, 2019)
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Join Alli as she marks the big 3-0-0 with a rare (and unscripted!) solo show. She reflects on why she struggled to plan this special episode, what sheâs been thinking about as this milestone approaches, the journey sheâs taken with SSR since 2018, and the behind-the-scenes struggles she rarely shares. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Cheers to 300 episodes!
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As you wish(ed), listeners, itâs time to unpack The Princess Bride. Alli and her guest focus on the 1973 novel by William Goldman but bring in lots of context from the cult classic movie, as well. Adventures, unreasonable beauty standards, metanarratives, beloved characters, and iconic lines abound!
Georgia Clark is an award-winning, six-times published novelist and performer. Sheâs the author of Island Time, It Had to Be You, The Regulars, The Bucket List, and others. Her latest novel, Most Wonderful, is now out and ready to claim its spot on your holiday season TBR. Follow Georgia on Instagram @georgialouclark.
CHECK OUT GEORGIAâS BOOKS:
Island Time
It Had to Be You
The Regulars
The Bucket List
Most Wonderful
CHECK OUT GEORGIAâS BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
All Fours by Miranda July
Whoever You Are, Honey by Olivia Gatwood
The Prospects by Kt Hoffman
Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London
MORE READING:
âBook Review: The Princess Bride by William Goldmanâ (Laraâs Wanderings, 2020)
âThe Princess Bride: We love the book and the filmâ (Fantasy Literature)
âThe Princess Bride at 50â (Quillette, 2023)
âBook Review â The Princess Bride by William Goldmanâ (Muse With Me, 2018)
âThe Princess Bride: The âGood Partsââ (Out of the Box, 2017)
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Almost seven years into SSR, weâve covered almost all of Judy Blumeâs kid lit masterpieces. On Episode 298, Alli and her guest dive into a Blume novel that feels like something of an outlier: Tiger Eyes, which was published in 1981. In it, Judy takes a darker tone, exploring matters of violence, loss, hypocrisy, and mental health. Tune in to learn more about how Tiger Eyes stands apart from the rest of Blumeâs beloved backlist and what makes it special.
TW: infertility, gun violence, substance abuse, anxiety, depression
Courtney Preiss is the author of Welcome Home, Caroline Kline. Follow her on Instagram @cocogolightly.
CHECK OUT COURTNEYâS BOOK HERE!
CHECK OUT COURTNEYâS BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
MORE READING:
âLife in Books: Tiger Eyesâ (Much Madness is Divinest Sense, 2010)
âJudy Blume Hits The Big Screen With Tiger Eyes Adaptationâ (NPR, 2013)
âTiger Eyes: Judy Blumeâs book and its film adaptationâ (American Indians in Childrenâs Literature, 2012)
âWilla Holland Tells Us All About Starring in the Judy Blume Flick Tiger Eyesâ (Teen Vogue, 2013)
âJudy Blume on the Tiger Eyes Film, What Sheâs Reading, and Why Moms Canât Get Their Daughters to Read Her Booksâ (Vanity Fair, 2013)
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At long last, it's John Green time! Episode 297 unpacks Looking for Alaska, the YA superstar's award-winning debut novel. Conversations range from manic pixie dream girls and the male gaze to addiction and the problematic language that made Alli and her guest cringe in 2024.
TW: suicide, addiction, parental loss
Alissa DeRogatis is the author of Call It What You Want. Subscribe to her Substack newsletter
Probably Oversharing and follow her on Instagram @alissaderogatis.
CHECK OUT ALISSAâS BOOK HERE!
CHECK OUT ALISSAâS BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
Old Enough by Haley Jakobson
Itâs Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
OTHER BOOK SHOUTOUTS:
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings
MORE READING:
âLooking for Alaskaâ (Kirkus, 2005)
âBook Nook: Looking for Alaskaâ (Shorewood Ripples, 2022)
âBook Review: Looking for Alaska by John Greenâ (Of Whiskey and Words)
âBook Review: Looking for Alaska by John Greenâ (A Paper Arrow, 2019)
âLooking for Alaska by John Green â reviewâ (The Guardian, 2013)
âLooking for Alaskaâ (School Library Journal, 2005)
âBook Review for Teens: John Green Looking for Alaskaâ (Your Teen, 2014)
âBook Review: Looking for Alaskaâ (Sara du Jour, 2014)
âHow Huluâs Looking for Alaska Updates John Greenâs Book for a New Generationâ (Time, 2019)
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You already know that Ramona Quimby is curious, precocious, hilarious, and bold... but now she gets to be brave, too. On Episode 296, Alli and her guest take a close look at the third book in Beverly Cleary's beloved Ramona series, Ramona the Brave. There's classroom enemies, feminism, craft projects, scary new bedrooms, and big moments of self-esteem. What more could you want?
Jessie Rosen is a writer, producer, educator, and speaker. Her novel The Heirloom is available wherever books are sold. Follow Jessie on Instagram @jessierosenwriter.
CHECK OUT OUR PREVIOUS RAMONA EPISODES:
Episode 18: Beezus and Ramona (with Penny Luksic)
Episode 253: Ramona the Pest (with Kara Alloway)
CHECK OUT JESSIEâS BOOK HERE!
CHECK OUT JESSIEâS BOOK RECOMMENDATION:
Thereâs Nothing Wrong With Her by Kate Weinberg
MORE READING:
âBeverly Cleary Made It OK To Be A Ramona In A World Of Susansâ (BuzzFeed News, 2021)
âHow Ramona Quimby Helps Kids Make Sense of This Unstable Worldâ (Literary Hub, 2019)
âRamona the Braveâ (Kirkus, 1975)
âBook Review: Ramona the Braveâ (A Journey of Words, 2023)
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**Please note that the Bookshop.org links above are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through these links. Please do not feel inclined to purchase unless you are excited to add these books to your TBR list!**
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Abby and Alli welcome their first-ever guest to the WriTing Friends series for a conversation about the publishing process, astrology, and everything in between.
Carinn Jade is the co-host of Pop Fiction Women and the author of The Astrology House. Follow her on Instagram @carinnjade.
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Longtime listeners know that Sarah Dessen books always, always bring the spice and juicy discussion to the podcast. This episode is no exception as Alli and her guest dish about 1998's Someone Like You. The book tackles a lot of issuesâand we try to do the same on today's show. Topics include bad boyfriends, intense friendships, losing your virginity, teen pregnancy, and tension between kids and parents.
Aurora Palit's debut novel Sunshine and Spice is now available wherever books are sold. Follow her on Instagram @aurorapalit.
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Jump aboard Episode 293 for a transatlantic voyage on the gorgeous writing of kid lit GOAT, Sharon Creech. This week, it's all about her 2000 Newbery Honor winner, The Wanderer, and the big thinking it inspires. Alli and her guest dive into discussions of trauma, accidental feminism, real-world fantasy, diary-style writing, and so much more.
Charlee Dyroff is the author of Loneliness & Company. Follow her on Instagram @charleedyroff.
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Join Alli and her guest for a trip to one of our favorite settings: Stonybrook, Connecticutâhome of the Baby-Sitters Club. This time, the discussion focuses on the fourth book in Ann M. Martin's beloved series, Mary Anne Saves the Day, which is a critical text in the BSC cinematic universe. Tune in to Episode 292 to hear us talk about Mary Anne's day-saving efforts, as well as conflict resolution, crisis situations before cell phones, the big Dawn intro, messages about bodies and beauty, found family, and (as always) so much more.
Afoma Eme-Umesi is a writer, voracious reader, and the founder of Reading Middle Grade, a website dedicated to sharing books for middle grade readers. Afoma loves contemporary realistic fiction and will never say no to a graphic novel. Follow her on Instagram @whatafomareads, check out Reading Middle Grade's Patreon, and sign up for her newsletter.
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At long last, we tackle the final book in the original Hunger Games trilogy: Mockingjay. This is a heavy book, so there's lots to get into in this episode: cycles of violence, the consequences of war, what it means to be a symbol, PTSD, and plenty of moral ambiguity. And it wouldn't be a Hunger Games episode (of course) without a Team Gale vs. Team Peeta debateâand this one gets especially spicy!
TW: suicide, PTSD, trauma
E.B. Asher is the pen name for the writing trio of Bridget Morrissey, Emily Wibberley, and Austin Siegemund-Broka, all of whom have written many books under their own names. This Will Be Fun is their debut novel under the E.B. Asher pseudonym. Follow their work on Instagram @eb_asher.
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Welcome back to SSR: WriTing Friends! This time around, Alli and Abby are digging a little deeper into one of their favorite elements of the writing process: creating characters. They discuss what inspires their characters, how they create nuanced fictional people, and what it's like to find compassion for antagonists. They also consider the challenges that come with being more drawn to characters than plot and how much their characters resemble themselves.
Follow Abby on Instagram @shmab and @abookwolfe.
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Itâs been too long since we paid a visit to Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield in good old Sweet Valley, California. Letâs fix that! Episode 289 covers the twenty-eighth installment in Francine Pascalâs beloved series, Alone in the Crowd, a book that explores insecurity, songwriting, the complicated nature of mother/daughter relationships, and rocking chair fundraisers. Alli and her guest find much to clown on here and itâs a truly excellent time.
TW: suicide
One of Alliâs all-time favorite authors is on the pod today! Claire Lombardo is the New York Times bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Hadâa Reeseâs Book Club pickâand Same As It Ever Was. Sheâs taught at the Iowa Writersâ Workshop and works part-time as a bookseller at Prairie Lights. Follow her on Instagram @claire_lombardo.
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This special bonus episode features Rachelle Bergstein, author of the new book The Genius of Judy. In it, Alli and Rachelle cover all things related to SSR queen JUDY BLUME! They chat about Judy's journey to publication, the process of researching her career, their favorite (and maybe least favorite) Judy books, the Blume legacy, feminism, book bans, and more.
Rachelle Bergstein is also the author of Women from the Ankle Down and Brilliance and Fire. Follow her on Instagram @rachellewb.
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This week, SSR gets a jump on Halloween festivities with a long overdue trip to R.L. Stineâs Fear Street. Specifically, Episode 288 is all about the first title in the series, The New Girl, in which a lovesick teenager falls for a villain disguised as a manic pixie dream girl. The book takes us into conversations about the horror genre as a whole, stranger danger, friend zoning, missing adults, menâs gymnastics, teen hormones, and more.
TW: potential abuse, dead animals
Claire Kann is the author of several novelsâmost recently, Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places. Sheâs an award-winning online storyteller whose favorite stories are the kind about everyday life with just a touch of supernatural in the details. Follow her on Instagram @kannclaire.
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Colleen McKeegan returns this week to celebrate another book hitting the shelves and to unpack another one of her favorite summer reads from childhood. This time, it's Fearless by Francine Pascal (RIP!)âthe first title in a series of the same name that explores the nature of fear, social anxiety, vigilantism, and (of course) the dramas of teenage romance. Alli and Colleen also chat about power dynamics, New York fantasies, Sweet Valley similarities and differences, and more.
Colleen McKeegan is the author of Rip Tide and The Wild One. Follow her on Instagram (@clmckeegan).
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