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Book Gang

Book Gang

By: Amy Allen Clark
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Are you looking for your next book recommendation? This book podcast celebrates debuts, backlist, and under-the-radar book selections. Expand your book stack with these recommendations and look at the book industry behind the scenes with Amy Allen Clark (MomAdvice.com). She shares the microphone with her favorite writers and bookstagrammers to help you have your best reading year ever. Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • From YA to Adult: Corey Ann Haydu on Writing Mothers and Other Strangers

    From YA to Adult: Corey Ann Haydu on Writing Mothers and Other Strangers
    Oct 23 2026
    Corey Ann Haydu reflects on moving from YA to adult fiction and how motherhood shaped her deeply honest debut, Mothers and Other Strangers.Perfectly pitched for fans of Claire Lombardo and J. Courtney Sullivan, debut adult novelist Corey Ann Haydu joins Book Gang to discuss her acclaimed Mothers and Other Strangers. The novel opens with two estranged friends reuniting, both about to become mothers, as they confront a decades-old betrayal that changed their families forever.Corey shares how new motherhood and her years in children’s and YA writing shaped the emotional honesty of her adult debut—a project she wrote in secret, embracing the bravery it takes to reinvent yourself as a seasoned novelist.In this week’s fascinating episode, we discuss:📚Navigating the Publishing “In-Between”: Corey discusses how Mothers and Other Strangers found itself between literary and commercial fiction—a space that can be tricky for editors and publishers. She opens up about the challenges of selling a book that’s hard to categorize and what it means for writers and readers when a novel doesn’t fit neatly on the shelf.📚 Genre-Shifting and Audience Overlap: Corey reflects on her move from children’s and YA books to adult fiction, and what it’s like to bring longtime readers along for a new kind of story. She shares insights on writing for different age groups, what remains the same, and the unique rewards and surprises of finding new audiences.📚 The Search for Community and the Allure of MLMs: We explore how Corey’s novel compassionately examines the vulnerability of new motherhood, the hunger for connection, and the ways women are drawn into—and sometimes exploited by—multi-level marketing schemes.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list offers readers 14 Books & Films on MLMs, Scams, and the Art of the Con—the perfect companion for anyone fascinated by the world of multi-level marketing and the art of persuasion. Patrons will receive a printable list to take to their local library, plus a spoiler-filled chat with Corey Ann Haydu, where we dive deeper into the back half of Mothers and Other Strangers.Meet Corey Ann HayduAuthor and educator Corey Ann Haydu has been publishing critically acclaimed books in the young adult and children’s space since 2013, including OCD Love Story, Eventown, Lawless Spaces, The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene, and more. Currently, she is on faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in their Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program.Her debut adult novel, Mothers and Other Strangers, came out in March 2026 and was the April 2026 Barnes and Noble Book Club pick, a People Magazine Book of the Week, and a Publisher’s Marketplace BuzzBook.Corey’s books have been Edgar Award nominees, Amazon Books of the Month, RISE Honorees, Junior Library Guild Selections, Kirkus, PW, and SLJ Best Books of the Year, BCCB Blue Ribbon Honorees, Brooklyn Public Library and Chicago Public Library Books of the Year, and more. A former theatre kid with a BFA in theatre and an MFA in writing, Corey lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughters.You can find Corey on her Substack, Books and Bangs, and as cohost of the podcast Still Writing.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)October Book Club Episode: One Yellow Eye by Leigh RadfordFREE BONUS BOOK LIST:14 Books & Films on MLMs, Scams, and the Art of the ConMothers and Other Strangers by Corey Ann HayduJessica Bearak InstagramIsola by Allegra GoodmanAllegra Goodman - Isola podcast episodeMeg WolitzerClaire LombardoInvasive Species by Ellery AdamsOCD Love Story by Corey Ann HayduThe Dream podcastLuLaRichHey, Hun by Emily Lynn PaulsonBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Corey Ann Haydu on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • What It’s Like to Debut with Thousand Voices: Bringing Abby Offsides to Life

    What It’s Like to Debut with Thousand Voices: Bringing Abby Offsides to Life
    Oct 16 2026
    Debuting with Thousand Voices, Anna McCallie shares how mentorship and fresh perspectives shaped Abby Offsides—a heartfelt romance about reinvention and belonging.Debut author Anna McCallie joins Book Gang to celebrate her sparkling debut, Abby Offsides—a contemporary romance set amid the camaraderie and chaos of UK football—and to introduce listeners to Thousand Voices, Jenna Bush Hager's new imprint dedicated to uplifting debut and early-career authors.Drawing on her own leap from Boston to London, Anna shares how she wove personal experiences of reinvention, vulnerability, and found family into Abby’s journey from outsider to insider—and learned the rules of romance writing along the way!In this week’s episode, we discuss:📚Launching with Thousand Voices: Anna discusses being among the first wave of debut authors published by Jenna Bush Hager’s new imprint, Thousand Voices, and shares how this supportive publishing model and hands-on mentorship shaped Abby Offsides from manuscript to publication.📚 The Power of Found Family: We explore the vibrant, lived-in world of Mersey Football Club, the camaraderie among athletes, and how McCallie crafts cozy, relatable moments—on and off the field—that capture the heart of sports and romance fans alike.📚 Navigating Romance Reader Expectations: Anna talks candidly about the specific tastes and strong opinions within the romance community, how she approached sensitive topics like infidelity and “messy” relationships in Abby Offsides, and what she’s learned from reader feedback as a debut novelist in the genre.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 12 Books From Thousand Voices to Watch For This week’s bonus book list spotlights the standout debuts and upcoming releases from Thousand Voices, Jenna Bush Hager’s new imprint. Patrons will receive a printable list to take to their local library, plus a bonus spoiler chat with Anna McCallie, where we dive deeper into Abby Offsides and how she created her unforgettable happily-ever-after moments.Meet Anna McCallieAnna McCallie was born in Boston and moved to the small town of Stilwell, Kansas, as a child. She has a B.A. in Arabic from Harvard University and an M.A. in international environmental policy from the Fletcher School, yet has never managed to have a job related to either of those subjects. She lives in London, and when she’s not writing, she can be found solving crossword puzzles, badgering her friends to go to pub quizzes, and watching a tremendous amount of football. Abby Offsides is her first novel and available on store shelves now.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)October Book Club Episode: One Yellow Eye by Leigh RadfordFREE BONUS BOOK LIST: 12 Books From Thousand Voices to Watch ForAbby Offsides by Anna McCallieBeach Read by Emily HenryTwo Weeks NoticeMia Hutchinson ShawInto The Blue by Emma BrodieBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Anna McCallie on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Ellery Adams on the Bravery to Leap Genres and Face My Audience’s Expectations (Invasive Species)

    Ellery Adams on the Bravery to Leap Genres and Face My Audience’s Expectations (Invasive Species)
    Oct 9 2026
    Author Ellery Adams discusses her genre-blending novel Invasive Species, the power of public reviewing, and why honesty and horror make the best book club fodder.This week on Book Gang, we’re joined by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ellery Adams, whose genre-blending new release, Invasive Species, is a darkly funny, horror-tinged romp set in 1980s suburbia. With more than forty novels to her name—including beloved series like The Secret, Book, & Scone Society—Ellery shares how she’s redefining what cozy, horror, and women’s fiction can be.In this episode, we dive into Ellery’s journey from cozy mysteries to genre-blending horror and satire, the art of honest book reviews (even as an author), and what it takes to build a world readers want to revisit again and again.In this week’s juicy episode, we discuss:📚 Honest Reviews & Reader Connection: Ellery is famous for her candid book reviews—even as a working author—and her willingness to engage in tough conversations on Goodreads. We explore the etiquette (and emotional toll) of public feedback, how she handles criticism, and why she believes honest dialogue between writers and readers makes the book world stronger.📚Reinventing a Writing Life: Ellery Adams’s journey from cozy mysteries to genre-blending horror is anything but linear. We discuss her bold leap from beloved series writer to risk-taking genre bender, how she navigated industry upheaval and shifting contracts, and what it means to trust your instincts even when readers expect you to "stay in your lane."📚 Monsters, Myth, and Suburban Drama: Invasive Species is more than a monster tale. We unpack Ellery’s sharp satire of 1980s suburbia, the real-life and mythological inspirations behind Mrs. Smith, and why the monstrous can be both literal and metaphorical. Plus, how horror (even cozy horror!) reflects our deepest anxieties about ambition, community, and what it means to be an outsider.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list features 11 Creature Feature Books that every reader should try for spooky season! Patrons of the show will receive a printable list to take to their local library and a bonus spoiler chat with Ellery Adams, where we dig deeper into the monstrous twists in Invasive Species.Meet Ellery AdamsEllery Adams is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels. A native New Yorker, she now resides in central North Carolina. Her acclaimed series include the Secret, Book, & Scone Society (Kensington), Book Retreat Mysteries (Kensington), Books By the Bay Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Molly Appleby Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries (Beyond the Page), and Hope Street Mysteries (Beyond the Page).In addition to her cozy and traditional mysteries, Ellery writes genre-blending fiction focused on women and their inner monsters. Her latest, Invasive Species (2026, HarperCollins), marks an exciting new direction—one that’s already winning over fans of dark, witty, and emotionally resonant storytelling. Friends in Dark Places will follow in 2027.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcastNEW BOOK LIST: 11 Creature Feature Books to Try This Spooky Season2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)October Book Club Episode: One Yellow Eye by Leigh RadfordCancer Made Me Do It by Melissa FuossInvasive Species by Ellery Adams (Available on Kindle Unlimited)The Secret Book & Scone SocietyBook Retreat MysteriesPie Shoppe SeriesStone Blind by Natalie HaynesJennifer SaintMadeline MillerAftertaste by Daria LavelleShark Heart by Emily HabeckShark Heart podcast episodeEllery’s Book RxDiavola by Jennifer ThorneThe Haunting of Hill House by Shirley JacksonSomething Wicked This Way Comes by Ray BradburyThe Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten MillerThe Change by Kirsten MillerVictorian Psycho by Virginia FeitoObsessionWeaponsBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Ellery Adams on Instagram or Her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
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    1 hr and 9 mins
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