Episode · The Book Review · 2025-05-09
Books mentioned on 12 Summer Books We're Looking Forward To
Gilbert Cruz recommended Vanishing Treasures by Katherine Rundell, Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst, King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab, and Baldwin by Nicholas Boggs, and discussed The First Gentleman by James Patterson and others. Joumana Khatib recommended Next to Heaven by James Frey.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Vanishing Treasures
Vanishing Treasures is a bestiary by Katherine Rundell that documents a variety of extraordinary and endangered creatures across numerous engaging chapters.
Recommended“She wrote a book called Vanishing Treasures, a beastiary of extraordinary endangered creatures and it's just all these chapters.”
Where to get it
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Atmosphere
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a novel that explores themes of exploration, ambition, and remarkable human achievement, centering specifically on the journey of a female astronaut.
Recommended“So on the subject of exploration and remarkable human achievement, I would like to mention atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reed.”
Where to get it
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Next to Heaven
Next to Heaven is a novel written by James Frey.
Recommended“Okay, so this is called Next to Heaven by James Fry.”
Where to get it
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A Marriage at Sea
A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst is a true story of love, obsession, and shipwreck detailing a couple who abandoned life on land to sail across the ocean.
Recommended“So this book is called A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhurst.”
Where to get it
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The First Gentleman
Discussed“The first is it's called The First Gentleman, and this is by well-known author James Patterson and former president of these United States, Bill Clinton.”
Where to get it
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King of Ashes
King of Ashes by S.
Recommended“The other thriller I wanted to talk about that also comes out in June is called King of Ashes. This is by S. A. Cosby.”
Where to get it
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Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.
Recommended“This is Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab.”
Where to get it
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Baldwin
Baldwin by Nicholas Boggs is an intimate and comprehensive biography exploring the life, relationships, and literary legacy of the iconic American writer and activist James Baldwin.
Recommended“This is a book called Baldwin, a love story by Nicholas Bogs.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (17) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“I stayed inside in the dark, in the cold, reading a biography of Theodore Roosevelt called The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris.”
“Katherine Randelle. She wrote the big children's book Impossible Creatures.”
“So The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was a bit of a Tik Tok sensation. in the recent past and that told this very glamorous story of a Hollywood actress Liz Taylor vibes.”
“She wrote Daisy Jones in the Six which was a big deal.”
“Yes, it's that James Fry. the one of a million little pieces, fame, infamy, whatever.”
“She co-wrote State of Terror with Louise Penny, the great thriller writer who has her Inspector Gamash series.”
“He has written My Darkest Prayer, Black Top Wasteland, Razer Blade Tears and All the Sinners Bleed, which is the only one of his I've read.”
“He has written My Darkest Prayer, Black Top Wasteland, Razer Blade Tears and All the Sinners Bleed, which is the only one of his I've read.”
“Darker Shade of Magic is one of them and Vicious is the other.”
“But I think her crossover hit was a book that I remember seeing all over the place many years ago. The Invisible Life of Eddie Laroo.”
“She's known for the Poppy War trilogy. She's known for Babel.”
“Her last book, Yellowface, was a total swerve for her. This was a racial satire of the publishing industry.”
“So Far Gone by Jess Walter.”
“Ed Park has a collection of short stories coming out called An oral History of Atlantis.”
“Person Who did my job has a book coming out about William F. Buckley called Buckley: The Life in the Revolution That Changed America.”
“Melissa Fibos has a memoir coming out called The Dry Season, a memoir of pleasure in a year without sex.”
“And Megan Abbott, the great twisty thriller queen, has a book coming called El Dorado Drive, which is thrilling to me because it's all about pyramid schemes and MLMs.”