The Dust Jacket

We discuss the high-profile 2023 vampire novel The God of Endings, by Jacqueline Holland. Should you read other vampire novels before you write your own? Would you like to be immortal or nah? Did this even need to be a vampire book? All that and more...
Spoilers start around 20 minutes in

Special guest Lauren helps us discuss the future cult classic, Victorian Psycho, by Virginia Feito. A bizarre, grotesque, and hilarious novel. 
No plot spoilers, but fair warning: we do talk about a lot of the surprising and outlandish moments in this book. If you want to go in completely fresh, read it first

We discuss The Book Censor's Library, by Bothayna Al-Essa, which was a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award for work in translation. 
Spoilers start at 14 minutes in

We discuss the standout 2024 lit-fic novel, Blue Sisters, by Coco Mellors

We discuss the 2025 Pulitzer Prize finalist The Unicorn Woman, by Gayl Jones. This book is notable for its obscurity and also its low review scores.
Later, Dacey digs into the Pulitzer Prize process and we float some totally unfounded theories about what goes on in those jury meetings.

We discuss the shocking memoir of One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz, who was in a cult for over a decade. 
We also have a special guest, the person who recommended this book, Alayne!

We talk about the new novel by the acclaimed author of Black Cake. The love streak is over: neither of us liked this one. It's probably our fault. 
Spoilers from 7 minutes in

We discuss the first installment of Octavia Butler's Xenogenesis trilogy, Dawn. This might be the first book we both really liked! 
Light spoilers start at 8 minutes

We discuss The Favorites, by Layne Fargo. Is it too soapy or just soapy enough? Does knowing it's "Wuthering Heights on ice" make it better or worse? 
Spoilers from about 15 mins in