Our forever First Lady, Michelle Obama, has gifted us with a manual for living life well. In her new book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, she discusses partnering well, overcoming fear, intergenerational politics, parenting and so much more. 

Lauryn and Alice chat about all of their favourite bits and shamelessly plug the book club they run, Melanin Pages! If you’re interested in books by and about Black Women, check it out here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melaninpagesbookclub/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/melanin-pages-book-club-58924956443

Episode Transcript: https://medium.com/the-normal-girl-book-blog/s2e5-the-light-we-carry-by-michelle-obama-3cc0abdba0d8 

Find our details here: https://linktr.ee/normalgirlbookclub 

It's time!!!

Calling all the lovers of love. Lauryn and Dionne have exactly what you've been asking for. We read the full-length fiction debut of the Romconiseur herself, Ms. Bolu Babalola and it was EVERYTHING we could have ever asked for.

Sweet like plantain, hot like pepper. They taste the best when together...

Sharp-tongued (and secretly soft-hearted) Kiki Banjo has just made a huge mistake. As an expert in relationship-evasion and the host of the popular student radio show Brown Sugar, she’s made it her mission to make sure the women of the African-Caribbean Society at Whitewell University do not fall into the mess of “situationships”, players, and heartbreak. But when the Queen of the Unbothered kisses Malakai Korede, the guy she just publicly denounced as “The Wastemen of Whitewell,” in front of every Blackwellian on campus, she finds her show on the brink.

What follows? Fake dating, romantic gestures, charming dinners, perfect use of the thong song and the blossoming of something more. Happy Valentines Reading xx 

P.S. This episode was recorded in September 2022 so allow the outdated pop culture references lol

Episode Transcript: https://medium.com/the-normal-girl-book-blog/s2e4-honey-spice-by-bolu-babalola-d4ba59a05aec 

Send us an email at normalgirlbookclub@gmail.com if you have comments, book recommendations or just to say hi xx

Find our details here: https://linktr.ee/normalgirlbookclub 

Calling all the recovering shopaholics!

Jade and Lauryn have some insights and tips from the incredible book, Consumed: The need for collective change; colonialism, climate change & consumerism by Aja Barber. In it, we learn about the many unethical tentacles of fast fashion, why our parents clothes were bette quality and how you can be a fashion girl and an ethical consumer all at the same time. 

Transcript: https://medium.com/the-normal-girl-book-blog/s2e3-consumed-by-aja-barber-f3374c88146c

Find our details here: https://linktr.ee/normalgirlbookclub 

Yaa and Lauryn are OBSESSED! 

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev is the story of the biggest Rock duo of the 70s. As they prepare for a 2016 reunion, music journalist S. Sunny Shelton, who has a special connection to Opal, seizes the chance to curate an oral history about her idols. Sunny thought she knew most of the stories leading up to the cult duo’s most politicized chapter. But as her interviews dig deeper, a nasty new allegation from an unexpected source threatens to blow up everything.

Told with a daring structure and filled with a chorus of unforgettable voices, Dawnie Walton immerses you in a story which is both provocative and chilling while saying very important things about artistry, politics and the way repercussions are always harsher for women, especially black women, who dare to speak their truth. READ IT NOW!

Episode transcript: https://medium.com/@lauryn.mwale/db844aa94af4 

Send us an email at normalgirlbookclub@gmail.com if you have comments, book recommendations or just to say hi xx

Find our details here: https://linktr.ee/normalgirlbookclub 

Talia Hibbert is one of the romance queens and Margaretha and Lauryn finally got a taste of her New York Times Best Selling Brown sisters trilogy. 

Dani Brown is an ambitious PhD student who is not interested in romantic relationships. She is however in the market for a friend with benefits. Zaf Ansari is a big hearted security guard/NGO founder who has a huge crush on Dani. After a fire drill goes Ary, they find themselves trending as #couplegoals online and decide to keep up the charade for the sake of Zaf’s charity before things get physical and evolve into much more. Join us as we gush and giggle about their love story. 

Episode Transcript: 

Find our details here: https://linktr.ee/normalgirlbookclub 

Hello lovelies! Crazy Rich Asians was one of the last truly iconic rom-coms and lucky for us, the book is even better!! Rachel Chu, a Chinese-American Economics professor, accompanies her boyfriend, Nick Young, to Singapore for a wedding. Little does she know that she will be attending the most lavish wedding of the year and her boyfriend is essentially the Crown Prince of the highest echelon of society. The world building is impeccable, the humour is tongue-in-check and this book has loads of heart. We will definitely be reading the rest of the series!!

Let us know what you think over on instagram @normalgirlbook or send us an email at normalgirlbookclub@gmail.com if you have comments, book recommendations or just to say hi xx

This book will absolutely revolutionise your feminist ideology. Mona writes eloquently about Anger, Attention, Profanity, Ambition, Power, Violence and Lust. An absolute MUST-READ!

Sign up to her newsletter for more:https://www.feministgiant.com/

Hello! Here is a discussion on a book we ADORED. A definite must read for everyone, everywhere. Grab yourself a cup of tea and enjoy xx

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Email :  normalgirlbookclub@gmail.com