Jessamine Chan joins us to discuss her debut novel The School for Good Mothers (Simon & Schuster, Jan. 4), a brilliant social satire centering on one Philadelphia mother’s “very bad day.” Kirkus: “An enthralling dystopian drama that makes complex points about parenting with depth and feeling” (starred review). Then our editors join with their reading recomme ... Show More
Aug 19
Charlie Jane Anders
Charlie Jane Anders joins us to discuss her eagerly anticipated new novel, Lessons in Magic and Disaster (Tor, Aug. 19), about a young witch who teaches her mother how to do magic. In a starred review, Kirkus says it offers “much to ponder, much to cry over and rage against, much ... Show More
51m 8s
Aug 5
Best Books of August 2025 with River Selby
On our Best August books episode, Kirkus’ editors share their top titles for the month. River Selby joins us to discuss Hotshot: A Life on Fire (Atlantic Monthly, Aug. 5), a debut memoir chronicling their time as an elite firefighter. Kirkus: “With fortitude and admirable vulnera ... Show More
51m 37s
Apr 2021
The Essay New Generation Thinkers Jean Rhys's Dress
Blousy chrysanthemums pattern the cotton dress, designed for wearing indoors, that a pregnant Sophie Oliver found herself owning. It helped her come to terms with motherhood. In this Essay, the New Generation Thinker reflects upon the daydreams of Jean Rhys, the way she tried to ... Show More
13m 50s
Feb 2019
Kat Rosenfield, young-adult author, talks to Quillette's Jonathan Kay about the recent mobbing of Amélie Wen Zhao, a YA writer forced to shelve her debut novel
Kat Rosenfield, young-adult author and prolific vlogger and journalist, talks to Quillette's Jonathan Kay about Amélie Wen Zhao, a YA writer who's withdrawn her debut novel Blood Heir after being mobbed for allegedly breaching various politically correct protocols that all YA aut ... Show More
18m 54s
Jan 2024
How to raise a teenage boy
Sana Safi meets two parenting experts who help women navigate their relationship with their teenage sons. Rosalind Wiseman is the best-selling author of 9 books, including Queen Bees & Wannabes, which became the inspiration for the movie Mean Girls, and Masterminds & Wingmen, in ... Show More
27m 18s
Jun 2020
How to stop competitive parenting with Jessica Fostekew and Katherine Ormerod
Frazzled parents Elisha Sessions (BBC Academy) and Deborah James (You, Me and the Big C) hear from mum Jo who is struggling to work with children at home, but feeling guilty for shooing her kids away. Comedian Jessica Fostekew (Motherland, Hoovering Podcast) gets real about her ‘ ... Show More
24m 47s