Black Chick Lit

There's been a lot of discourse surrounding our latest pick. Everything's Fine by Cecelia Rabess has been fodder for a think piece by The New York Times, an interview in The CUT and hundreds of hot takes on Twitter. Was the book worth all that chatter? Not really. Listen in as we discuss the "controversy" surrounding the book's marketing, what we think the author was trying to achieve and the authenticity of fake hair. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Hi, readers! We've got another fun interview for you this month. We chatted with author and self-proclaimed L.A. stan Rachel Howzell Hall about her new book, What Never Happened, and what it's like to be a Black woman in the thriller space — whether that be as an author or a main character. Learn more about the plotting process and character development of thriller characters, Rachel's philosophy on plot twists and which of her books she thinks she'd survive. (Interview begins at 12:48) Rachel Howzell Hall is the New York Times bestselling author of We Lie Here; These Toxic Things; And Now She's Gone; They All Fall Down; and, with James Patterson, The Good Sister, which was included in Patterson's collection The Family Lawyer. A Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist as well as an Anthony, International Thriller Writers, and Lefty Award nominee, Rachel is also the author of Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes, and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. Find her on Twitter and Instagram. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Bryonna, Claire, Erica, Frank, I Found This Great Podcast, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara and Noelia. If you like what you hear, be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listeni

Hi, readers! It's June and Black Chick Lit is celebrating Pride month! Given all the mess happening in the news, the government and even at Target, we wanted to do a special episode to talk about what's going on and how it impacts Black women. We spoke with author and speaker Kianna Alexander on what Pride means to her, her journey to finding her identity and how all of that impacts her writing and reading. Kianna is the author of more than 40 books and her latest, Can't Let Her Go, will be released on June 20. This follow-up to her previous book, Can't Resist Her, follows Peaches and Jamie, two professional Black women, as they “push past the boundaries of friendship into something deeper.” Find her at Twitter at @KiannaWrites and Instagram at kiannaalexanderwrites. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Bryonna, Claire, Erica, Frank, I Found This Great Podcast, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara and Noelia. If you like what you hear, be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Happy new year, readers! We're kicking off 2023 as we do every year with mess and hijinks. It's Urban Fic Month, and this year, we read Everybody Ain't Your Friend, by Tanisha Stewart. This isn't a lesson we needed to learn, but our main character, Mia, was in desperate need of some education. How did she have so many unstable people in her life and not notice it? Why didn't she block anyone on Facebook? Why did she spell Tyreke with an "I"? So much to learn. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons! If you want to be among our favorite people in the world, support us over on Pateron. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Hey readers! We're still getting hyped for FX's new series, Kindred. Last time, we gave you a refresher (or possibly an introduction) to Octavia Butler and her work. In this episode, we invited an awesome panel of sci-fi fans and creators to chat about Butler, her legacy and what we hope to see in future adaptations of her work. Our awesome panelists are: Isis Asare is the founder and CEO of Sistah Scifi, the first Black owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the United States. Damian Duffy is a cartoonist, scholar, writer, curator, lecturer, teacher and award-winning bestselling graphic novelist. John Jennings is a professor, author, graphic novelist, curator, Harvard Fellow and all-around champion of Black culture. Nova Sparks is a writer who grew up watching and reading science fiction, horror, and fantasy and quickly became a fanatic. They share how they discovered her work, what science fiction and fantasy mean to Black readers and their hopes for future works. Duffy and Jennings previously worked on Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, which we chatted about before. Listen in and get nerdy. Thanks to our sponsor FX for supporting this episode. Kindred is streaming now only on Hulu.  And as always, thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Hey, readers, We're doing something special this episode! In preparation of FX's new series Kindred, which will stream on Hulu beginning Dec. 13, we've decided to study up and learn more about the book and its genius author, Octavia Butler. Join us as we share some cool info about Ms. Butler, including what she had to say about her ability to write the future with eerie accurateness. Fun fact: The people at NASA are some real sci-fi nerds. Our girl Octavia has not one but two(!) astronomical features named after her. Then, we dig into Kindred, Butler's most iconic title. We've discussed a Kindred adaptation before, but this time we really get into Dana's struggle. Not only does she have to deal with one ancestor who's a racist slaveowner and another who hates her, she also has to put up with her husband's shit! Listen in and get ready for the first-ever TV adaptation of Kindred! Be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Thanks to our sponsor FX for supporting us with this episode. And as always, thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n.

Hey, readers! We're continue our celebration of Black Chick Lit with the second part of our discussion of the Black girl classic, The Color Purple by Alice Walker. We read the book and watched Steven Spielburg's 1986 film, made famous by Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and, the Queen of the Nineties herself, Oprah! Be cure to check out the first part of our conversation if you missed it. We finish up by discussing the tragic story of Sophia, that time Celie got a bit murder-y and the redemption of ol' down dirty Mr. _____. Don't forget: In celebration of our pod-iversary, we're giving away four $30 gift cards to Amazon! Treat yourself to some books or a few months of Kindle Unlimited! All you need to do is follow us on Twitter at @blackchicklit and quote tweet us sharing your favorite moment from The Color Purple. If you want to be among our favorite people in the world, support us over on Pateron.  As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara, Noella, Ruth, Therese and Whitney. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Hey, readers! We're celebrating six years of Black Chick Lit with a discussion of the Black girl classic, The Color Purple by Alice Walker. We read the book and watched Steven Spielburg's 1986 film, made famous by Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and, the Queen of the Nineties herself, Oprah! You know what this book is about. So, join us as we talk about Ms. Celie, THE Shug Avery, and that low-down dirty dog Mr. ______. We'll finish up the conversation in two weeks, so be sure to join us then, too! Don't forget: In celebration of our pod-iversary, we're giving away four $30 gift cards to Amazon! Treat yourself to some books or a few months of Kindle Unlimited! Listen in for more details. If you want to be among our favorite people in the world, support us over on Pateron. Rewards include a shout-out on every episode of the podcast and exclusive audio/chats. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara, Noella, Ruth, Therese and Whitney. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

This winter, we got cozy with the podcast's first cozy mystery. We read A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley, the first in the Odessa Jones series. We loved the characters in this book — and there are a bunch of them. There's Charlie, Dessa's asshole boss/murder victim; Harley, her co-worker, whose innocence Dessa is tasked with proving; and Lennox, a former cop turned BBQ pit master who thinks Dessa is in way over her head. We gossip about all of them and their mess. We also chat about new trucks, black women and fiber arts, and planes versus trains. If you want to be among our favorite people in the world, support us over on Pateron. Rewards include a shout-out on every episode of the podcast and exclusive audio/chats. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara, Noella, Ruth, Therese and Whitney. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

We wanted to learn more about the female half of Ashley and JaQuavis, so for this year's Urban Fic Month, we read Butterfly by Ashley Antoinette. Did we know what was going on? Barely. This series is a spin-off of a spin-off that started with her title Moth to a Flame. Did that stop us from judging the hell out of it? Absolutely not. Is Morgan a Bad Bitch or a spoiled one? Why the hell does everyone in this book hate rich, popular, caring family-man Bash? Why are women in these books constantly putting fruit up their vaginas?? We don't find the answers to any of these questions, but we had fun asking them. If you want to be among our favorite people in the world, support us over on Pateron. Rewards include a shout-out on every episode of the podcast and exclusive audio/chats. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Martel, Montara, Noella, Ruth, Therese and Whitney. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

In this episode, we're joined by a special guest, Frank, to discuss another of our favorite genres: horror! Why does it share in common with romance? What defines a work of horror? And why are people trying so hard to "elevate" the genre? We also brainstorm the perfect romance for Frank to try and list off a dozen of different horror recs. If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You'll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Lauren, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

October is here, and we're ready to get creepy. This episode, we read These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall. It was full of creepy stalkers, ruthless serial killers, explosive family secrets and ... one big dummy of a main character. (Mickie, girl, here's some advice: don't sleep with dudes you suspect may have killed their own mother.) We also chat about getting into the holiday spirit, that L.A. life and Rachel's expanded KU universe. If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You'll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Claire, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Lauren, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

This episode, we're joined by Derrik of the Ratchet Book Club to discuss Loving My Wife and Her Sister, Too by Lady Lissa and Shelli Marie. We meet Analise (the wife), Zakiya (the sister) and Gavin (the fuckboy) and dig into the messiness (or lack thereof) of their lives. Is Gavin a predator who groomed his wife (and her sister, too)? Would Analise ever cheat on Gavin? Who the fuck even is Micaela?? We also talk about the unexplored rachetness of Kindle Unlimited, new merch slogans and other things you should and could do besides read this book. If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You'll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Lauren, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

We're getting spooky already at Black Chick Lit. This month, we read The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris and we had … thoughts. Listen in as we discuss what makes good Black horror, hair products you need to stay away from and iffy Instagram hashtags. If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You'll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

There were so many Arrested Development jokes we could have made. We're back for take two of our discussion of Stacey Abrams' novel While Justice Sleeps. It's not Ms. Abrams' writing debut, it is the first fiction book she's written under her name since becoming a national political force. And, to be honest, this book may be too smart for us. Along with complicated word puzzles, sophisticated chess analogies and bioengineering (wasn't expecting that!), this legal thriller dives into some pretty niche elements of constitutional law. Listen in as we struggle to figure out just what the hell is going on. Does Justice Howard Wynn have a right to be paranoid? How did he trick a law clerk into signing a serious legal document without looking at it? Is he Black?!  If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You'll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones'n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

We felt like stirring up shit this episode, so we asked you to share your messiest, no-holds-barred book opinions. Okay ya'll - #BCLChat is BACK! Tell us your messiest, most hatin ass, I said what I said book opinion. We'll discuss answers in our next bonus ep! pic.twitter.com/2T96Kio5UH — Black Chick Lit (@blackchicklit) May 19, 2021 Needless to say, you all delivered. Listen in as we discuss your opinions, from your distrust of certain authors to roasting entire POVs. We also talk Black authors and interracial romance, leaving YA for the teens and our thoughts on taboo literature. If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

We're digging into all the -isms in this episode, y'all. We read Such a Fun Age, by Kiley Reid, which takes a sharp look at racism, classism and all the ways they can fuck up our lives. We read as Emira struggles to manage two flavors of problematic white people: her overcompensating, liberal #girlboss boss and her wanna-be-down love interest. They're both a mess and we hate them both! Listen in for a discussion on the insidiousness of microagressions, the cult of motherhood and how #ZaraWasRight. If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Andrea, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Hey, readers. Life really came and kicked some of us in the teeth, but we're back, we got all our shots and we're talking books. Bad news is good news, it turns out. Join us as we catch up, talk Simon & Schuster's complete lack of fucks and accept the fact that we are, in fact, nerds on a power trip. We also try to figure out what Middle Grade is and whether it's just for middle-schoolers. (Turns out, no!) QUESTION: What are your favorite middle grade books for an 8 year old who is reading above her age? — Black Chick Lit (@blackchicklit) April 25, 2021 Be sure to join us later this month when we talk Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Ali, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Martel, Melissa, Sylvia, Therese, Whitney and YM. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening!

Happy 2021, lovely listeners! It's our favorite time of the year: Urban Fic Month. (Okay, so we were still a little hungover from 2020 and this episode is a tad late. Forgive us!) This year, we read a classic: The Cartel, by Ashley & JaQuavis. There's money, romance, murder and a lot of anti-Haitian sentiment. It's uncomfortable. There's also some "sexy" farting (or should we say queuing?), a graphic castration and a whole lot of colorism. Get the alcohol ready, because this one is wild. Trigger warning for a mention of rape and discussion of homophobia starting at 1:07:40. If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including video and podcast outtakes. As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Adoria, Ali, Brittney, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Erica, Frank, Heather, I Found This Great Book, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, Maria, Martel, Melissa, Montara, Sylvia, Terri, Therese, Whitney and YM. We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening! In this episode: The Burning God by R.F. Kuang Lead From the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrams Our Time is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America by Stacey Abrams Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson Deacon King Kong by James McBride

We’re wrapping up 2020 by talking about all the things we did (and didn’t do) to keep our heads above water. Sister Sistermarathon anyone? Topics include: Dr. Jill Biden Booktube shenanigans a campaign to get Dani to play Mass Effect Mollie saying Dallinar a lot and a reflection on our very social year Thanks as always to our generous patrons — we’ve got a ton of extras from this episode coming your way! Shout out to Martel, Jennifer, Ansela, Therese, Melissa, Catherine, Katie, Emily, LaToya, Ali, Kat, Montara, Maria, Adoria, Frank, Ellen, Sylvia, Bryonna and Curtis. And thanks to Suite45 for use of our theme, Jonse’n. We’ll see you all in 2021 for Urban Lit January!

This month, Ako & Marci from The Colored Pages Book Club drop by to talk Cinderella is Dead by Kaylnn Brown.This episode is bringing Big Pieces (and Pisces Moon) energy, ya’ll. We talk pig infrastructure, we sympathize with evil witches and we ask, what exactly was the plan? Also discussed in this episode:Patsy by Nicole Dennis-BennMapping the Interior by Stephen Graham JonesGhost Boy by Martin PistoriusThe Year of the Witching by Alexis HendersonAnd Then She’s Gone by Rachel Howzell HallAs always, shout out to our Patrons: Martel, Jennifer, Ansela, Therese, Melissa, Catherine, Katie, Emily, LaToya, Ali, Kat, Montara, Maria, Adoria, Frank, Ellen, Sylvia, Bryonna and Curtis, because we literally could not do this without your support.And thanks to Suite 45 for use of our theme Jonse’n (seriously, like three separate people told me how much they liked it this past month).

What’s this? Another special guest?! This week we read When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole, and we’re not gonna lie, the discussion goes in some weird places (apologies in advance to Robo X).  This is a thriller and it’s SPOILER FREE YA’LL, so you really have no excuse to download, listen, then go read this book! As always, a very special thank you to our Patrons: Martel, Jennifer, Ansela, Therese, Melissa, Catherine, Katie, Emily, LaToya, Ali, Kat, Montara, Maria, Adoria, Frank, Ellen, Sylvia, Bryonna and Curtis. If you wanna be part of the cool kids club, head over to Pateron and sign up. You’ll also get access to bonus materials including a read-along vlog and some clips from this episode that were cut for time (wait, who is reading my period tracker?). We also love it when you rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n. And thanks to YOU for listening! In this episode: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan I Want My Hat Bac by Jon Klassen The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang This is how the robot uprising starts

We're back and we have another special guest joining us this week! (Honestly, we're not used to being so popular.) This episode, we read The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon, and got to chat about the book with the author herself. She spoke with us about the differences between traditional and indie publishing, how Samiah and her girls came to be and whether Daniel is too perfect a romance hero. She also gives us a few hints about the next book in The Boyfriend Project series. Thanks to our patrons for their support: Adoria, Ali, Ansela, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Frank, I Found This Great Book Podcast, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, LaToya, Maria, Martel, Melissa, Montara, Sylvia and Therese. Join us on Patreon starting at only $2 a month and help support the podcast! Thank you for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

We got a real treat for y'all this episode! We read Take a Hint, Dani Brown, by Talia Hibbert, and were joined by the author herself for a conversation about everything including her move from indie publishing to traditional, the Black Lives Matter movement in Europe and whether her parents read her books. We did manage to also chat about Zaf, Dani and their hilarious romantic hijinks. Thanks to our patrons for their support: Adoria, Ali, Ansela, Bryonna, Catherine, Ellen, Emily, Frank, I Found This Great Book Podcast, Jennifer, Kat, Katie, LaToya, Maria, Melissa, Montara, Sylvia and Therese. Join us on Patreon starting at only $2 a month and help support the podcast! As always, thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

Hi, readers. We hope you’re doing well and are staying safe. We recorded this chat shortly after the protests began, but due to continuing health issues in Dani’s family, it just now got published. The delay doesn’t matter, though, because the topic we discuss will never go stale: the importance of Black lives, Black joy, Black stories and Black survival. We also talk about wtf is up with Just Kidding Rowling, how we’re too old for social media and what’s gonna happen when the ‘rona pops back up. This episode was made possible with the help of Mocha Girls Read and The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt by Jill Watts. Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com or tweet us at @blackchicklit. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

Considering the number of co-hosts who have joined me on this podcast who discovered this series through a bonkers panel hosted by historical romance novelist Sarah MacLean, I had to have her on the podcast. The podcast just wouldn't be complete without it. In this episode, we talk about our very, very French heroine, Marlene, and her shy beau, Zennek. We also discuss the appeal of bonkers books, the future of the Ice Planet tribe and the genius of Ruby Dixon's world-building. This is the last episode for this batch (er, season?) before the podcast goes on hiatus. It's been such a treat to talk about sex, love, romance, trauma, survival and horny blue aliens with all of my co-hosts and listeners. This is a repost of episode seventeen of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Seduction. Originally published on June 30, 2020.

We're going back in time! In this episode, we flashback to the very beginning to see what went down when the Ice Planet's saddest woman and most emotionally intelligent hunter resonated. Author Juno Sunbear declares Ariana the mascot for 2020 (Sad Bitch 2020) and I fawn over how great a job Zolaya does at helping her cope. We're both creeped out by their eerie kid, though. We also talk about what's happening over at the Icehome Village. Do the new arrivals even know the Croatoan Village has indoor plumbing and heated floors? Did they get a choice before being abandoned on that beach? Justice for the Beach Tribe! Be on the look out for the next episode when I'll talk Barbarian's Seduction with author Sarah MacLean! This is a repost of episode sixteen of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Beloved. Originally published on June 23, 2020.

This episode, I'm joined by author Katrina Jackson to discuss Barbarian's Tease, the 15th book in the Ice Planet Barbarians series. And, whew! Brook and Taushen really tested us in this one. They basically that one Katy Perry song. They're also kind of dumb.

Hi, y’all. A few things before we get to the episode: Thank you for being so patient as we get episodes out. Between motherhood, a pandemic, a cancer diagnosis and failing technology, things have been rough. This episode was recorded before the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed, hence why there is no discussion of it. We plan to talk about it in a future chat. Black Lives Matter. ✊

Heyyyyyy, listeners! I hope you all are thriving and surviving as 2020 continues to 2020. I recorded this episode back in May and have finally kicked my butt in gear to share. Thank you for being so patient, 'cause I'm struggling.

The series goes back to its roots in this book, with couples hiding from the tribe and making out in caves. But things get messy (literally!) quickly for Kate and Harrec when the big blue barbarian suffers a serious injury. To complicate matters, our boy can't handle the sight of his own blood. Ellen and Ellen's Mom from the Not Your Mom's Romance Book Club join me to discuss Ice Planet exposure therapy, Harrec's lack of game and whether the sa-khui kiss-and-tell. Join me for the next episode when we discuss Warrek and Summer's book, Barbarian's Rescue. This is a repost of episode thirteen of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Lady. Originally published on May 19, 2020.

This book starts with the hero buying human slaves from intergalactic smugglers. Big yikes! Luckily for us, Ms. Dixon doesn't burden the story with descriptions of horrors and trauma. Instead, we follow our newly resonated couple, Bek and Elly, as they work to trust and understand one another. Jen, from the Twitter account JenReadsRomance, joins me as we discuss Bek's surprising redemption (okay, not that surprising ... it's in the title). Next week, I'll be joined by Ellen and Ellen's Mom from the Not Your Mom's Romance Book Club to discuss Barbarian's Lady. What debauchery have I introduced into their lives?! This is repost of episode twelve of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Redemption. Originally published on May 5, 2020.

Things are tough right now. Why not avoid it all by listening to Heaving Bosoms' Melody and I talk about all the alien sex featured in Barbarian's Choice? Our girl, Farli, is all grown up and looking for a resonance mate of her very own. Luckily for her, angsty mechanic Mardok lands on the ice planet. He's big, blue and broody. Even better, he's Farli's resonance mate. Listen in as we answer questions you never had about sa-khui sex, anatomy and birth control. Get ready for next week's episode when Jen of JenReadsRomance and I discuss Bek's big fuck-up in Barbarian's Redemption. This is a repost of episode eleven of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Choice. Originally published on March 24, 2020.

This is a heavy one, friends, so get the tissues ready. Andrea, from the Shelf Love Podcast joins me for a discussion of Barbarian's Hope. We were impressed by all the emotional work Asha and Hemalo did to reconnect following their break up. Healthy conversations? Had 'em. Avoidance behavior? Called it out. Grief? Dealt with, but not minimized, in a productive manner. We stan a mentally healthy resonance couple. Heads up, readers: Both the book and this episode deal with the loss of a child. Please be aware and listen with caution, if needed. Things get even more out of this world in next week's episode, when Melody from the Heaving Bosoms podcast joins me to discuss Barbarian's Choice. This is a repost of episode two of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Hope. Originally published on March 17, 2020.

Erin, of the Heaving Bosoms podcast, and I discuss the tragic romance of Pashov and Stacey from Barbarian's Heart. She loves him, but he can't remember her. It's my kryptonite, y'all. We follow these two as they road-trip across the ice planet to the tribe's new home and try to repair their broken bond. But he keeps saying the wrong and she won't give the guy a break. In one last ditch effort, Pashov "kidnaps" Stacey (with permission from his chief, of course) and whisks her away to a hunter cave to rekindle their romance. Come back next week when Andrea, of the Shelf Love podcast, and I discuss Barbarian's Hope. Heads up for that one: the book contains discussion of the loss of a child. This is a repost of episode nine of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Heart. Originally published on March 10, 2020.

Urban Lit Month continues? We read Their Eyes We're Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston and couldn't help but spot a few similarities between Janie Crawford and a few of other past heroines. (*cough* Zoe *cough*) Her tragic background. Her wild and crazy man problems. Her relationship with a fast-talking man who introduces her to sex, fighting and gambling. Don't tell us this book isn't a proto-urban lit title! We also discuss Tea Cake and his never-ending schemes, Hurston's history with the Niggerati (bet you didn't know about that!) and that mad dog who hitched a ride on that cow. Be sure to join us next month when we read Attica Locke's Heaven, My Home.  As always, thanks to our patrons for their support: Frank, Kat, Montara, Bryonna, Ellen, I Found This Great Book Podcast, Sylvia, Adoria, Ali, Emily, LaToya and Maria.  Join us on Patreon starting at only $2 a month and help support the podcast! Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

In case you didn't know, my all-time favorite gif is the one featuring Marie Kondo gleefully stating that she loves mess. Well, Ms. Kondo, you'd love Barbarian's Taming, because our girl Maddie and her man, Hassen, are MESSY. Ana Coqui, of the Beyond the Sectors and RomBkLove podcasts, joins me as we discuss their questionable decisions. Not only does Maddie pick the tribe's loneliest, most desperate man to have a no-strings-attached fling with (lol good luck enforcing that), she picks the dude who is exiled for stealing her own sister. Somehow, though, these two outsiders make it work. But, will Maddie's sister ever accept them? Will Hassen be able to convince Vektal to put an end to his (admittedly mild) exile? Turns out, none of that matters because a catastrophic earthquake destroys to Tribal Caves and puts the whole community out on the ice streets. It's a plot-heavy read with some big consequences for the tribe. Listen in next week as I discuss Barbarian's Heart, featuring poor Pashov and his poor busted head, with Erin of Heaving Bosoms. This is a repost of episode two of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Taming. Originally published on March 3, 2020.

I can't believe I made it through this entire episode without making a single! Miss Cleo joke. This episode, Melinda, from Romance Sparks Joy, joins me to read about the Ice Planet's resident psychic and his alien girlfriend, Lila. Lila gives us some of the series best character development, as she grows a timid damsel-in-distress to a daring outdoors-woman. This books gives us a lot of series firsts, as well. We got the first mention of the fruit caves, the first hint that those creepy metlaks aren't as feral as they seem and, finally!, the series' first failed kidnapping. Hassen, buddy. Sucks for you. Hear more about his sad punishment when I discuss Barbarian's Taming with Ana from the RomBkLove podcast and a reviewer for Love in Panels. This is a repost of episode seven of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Touch. Originally published on Feb. 25, 2020.

2020 is about some real shenanigans. Between the brown-face fiasco Jeanine Cummins brought with her American Dirt release and the Barnes & Noble "Diverse Editions" mess, we've been facepalming since the new year began. Flatiron Books tried to both-sides their way out of the Cummins mess with the year's worst PR statement. B&N took the classier route and just cancelled themselves. Listen in as we stare agog at the state of modern publishing, and be sure to join us next month when we read the Black literary classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston. Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com or tweet us at @blackchicklit. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes.

We're taking it back to where it all began! This week, I'm joined by my longtime friend and cohost, Mollie, from Black Chick Lit. We discuss the very first book in the series that I ever read, Barbarian's Mate. Mollie was there with me when I discovered the series, so it's only proper that she join me for this trip back to Not Hoth. We had a lot of questions: How did Josie not feel that IUD slip out her pants? Where is the Ice Planet sex planet? And is Haeden actually an idiot? The pod is off next week, but be sure to check back the following week when Melinda, from Romance Sparks Joy and the RomBkPod joins me to discuss book seven, Barbarian's Touch. This is a repost of episode six of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Alien. Originally published on Feb. 11, 2020.

We’re doing something different this month. Things are a bit busy with family and babies, so for this episode, we’re sharing a special, previously recorded crossover episode. Mollie joins Dani on the Ice Planet Podcast to discuss book six of the series, Barbarian’s Mate.   The Ice Planet Barbarians series follows a group of human women alien abductees as they adjust to life on a barren ice planet populated by big, blue aliens with heart worms. It’s a lot more romantic than I’m making it sound, I promise. Be sure to share your opinions on the topic by tweeting us at @blackchicklit or emailing us at contact@blackchicklit.com. Want more? Join us on Patreon and, starting at only $2 a month, get access to polls, special Patreon episodes and videos. As always, thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

We ruin all your favorite foods in this one. This week, I'm joined romance reader, blogger and Ice Planet newbie Funmi as we discuss Barbarian's Prize, Tiffany and Salukh's book. Brace yourself, because this episode doesn't shy away from anything. Comparisons to Cinnabon icing and viscous Capri-Suns are made. Don't say I didn't warn you! But along with that, we have a great discussion of trauma and healing after sexual assualt. We don't talk details, but you should definitely be aware that sexual assualt and rape are mentioned in this episode. Get ready for the ultimate messiness next week when I'm joined by my Black Chick Lit co-host, Mollie, as we read Barbarian's Mate, the first book in the series I ever read! This is a repost of episode five of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian's Prize. Originally published on Feb. 4, 2020.

Surprise, surprise: more dick talk. This week, I'm joined by Erin from the Learning the Tropes podcast. Listen in as we discuss Barbarian Mine, the fourth book in the series featuring Harlow and mystery man Rukh. We ask (and answer!) some v. important questions: Why do the sa-khui have spurs? What does a flaccid, plated dick look like? And just how loud do these khui scream when these couples resonate? Please treat yo'self and check out the Learning the Tropes episode where they discuss Ice Planet Barbarians. Next week, listen in for a discussion of Barbarian's Prize with romance reader and blogger Funmi. This is a repost of episode four of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian Mine. Originally published on Jan. 28, 2020.

So much talk about dildos in this one. For this episode, I'm joined by Isabel of Romance Sparks Joy to discuss Barbarian Lover, Kira and Aehako's book. We try and break down the real questions of this series: How do 7-foot-tall alien men romance 5-foot-tall human women? How is anyone getting any sleep in that loud fuck-cave? And why doesn't anyone care about what happened to Harlow? This book also provided us some A+ comedy bits, highlighted by the gift of an anatomically correct bone dildo. (Bonus: here's the dildo that Isabel says would be a good stand-in for the sa-khui's junk.) Prepare to delete your search history and join in. Next week, listen in for a discussion of Barbarian Mine with Erin of Learning the Tropes. This is a repost of episode three of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian Lover. Originally published on Jan. 21, 2020.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! It's Urban Fic Month! This year, we go back home to Missouri and read Hold U Down by Keisha Ervin. Meet Unique and her girls, Zoe, Kiara and Kay Kay, the mildest criminals the STL has to offer. They live by the code that requires them to make money, spend money and never catch feelings. They will spend the entirety of this book doing none of those things. We follow the clique as they get booed up, hang out at strip-mall night clubs and study at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. This book also competes for "Worst Sex Scene Involving a Perishable Food Item." We had to read about it, so y'all had to hear about it. Be sure to share your opinions on the topic by tweeting us at @blackchicklit or emailing us at contact@blackchicklit.com. Want more? Join us on Patreon and, starting at only $2 a month, get access to polls, special Patreon episodes and videos. As always, thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. Special thanks to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

This is repost of episode two of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Barbarian Alien. Originally published on Jan. 14, 2020.

This is repost of episode one of the Ice Planet Podcast covering Ice Planet Barbarians. Originally published on Jan. 7, 2020.

Happy New Year, y’all! We hope you had a fantastic holiday and a wonderful start to your 2020. ‘Cause RWA certainly didn’t! In case you missed it, the Romance Writers of America are embroiled in what the Guardian calls a "racism row." We attempt to break down what they fucked up this time and, whew, chile. It’s a mess. FYI: This mess is currently ongoing and evolving; in fact, it was a bit out of date the afternoon we recorded. For the latest updates and wtf-ery?, we definitely recommend checking out this Twitter moment with all the details created by Romance Sparks Joy. If you’re curious to learn more, we previously discussed the RWA’s inclusivity and racism problems in a previous episode. Mollie argued that an organization that didn’t look out for all its members was irrelevant and Dani argued that the organization served a purpose and was taking steps to amend their issues. Guess who came out the fool? Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com or tweet us at @blackchicklit. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes. And don’t forget: January is Urban Fic month! This year, we’re reading Hold U Down by Keisha Ervin. Read up, drink up (’cause you know this is our messiest episode) and join us! 

We can't believe it, dear readers, but we've made it through another year of reading, podcasting and doing both while black. The twitter dramas! The plagiarism scandals! The nacho cheese! We take a look back and reflect on all the books read and craziness wrought in 2019. Which titles did we love this year? Which did we think was worse: Addicted or The Wedding Date? What was our favorite BCL episode of the year? Listen in and find out. Do you have a suggestion for a future #BCLChat? Email us at contact@blackchicklit.com or tweet us at @blackchicklit. And don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to Black Chick Lit on iTunes. And don’t forget: January is Urban Fic month! Want to pick this year's title? Join us on Patreon for only $2 a month and gain exclusive podcast voting rights.

Winter is coming. That means it's time for us to dive into the world of fantasy ( ... er, or into fantasy worlds). This episode, we read N.K. Jemisin's 2010 debut novel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Mollie wasn't kidding when she said this was a sexy book. Gods sexing up gods. Gods sexing up humans. Humans sexing up their cousins. It's wild, y'all. But, in the midst of all the sexy times, there's a deftly crafted murder mystery that took us the majority of the episode to unspool. Listen in and follow along!  Get ready for the next episode, our annual End-of-Year retrospective. We'll chat about the bookish good, bad and the ugly. Got something you want say? Tweet us at @blackchicklit or email us at contact@blackchicklit.com. Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes. As always, thank you to Suite45 for our theme song, Jones’n.

Hey, readers! In this month’s episode we discuss the perilous world of shopping for diverse children’s books. We’re overwhelmed by how much there is to consider with presenting children with authentic representation of people of color: When was the first time we saw ourselves in literature? Does it matter who writes and/or illustrates the book? How well do books handle interracial families or inter-community topics like colorism? And is it cheating to just buy your kid a book about a bear? (Answer: yes.) Listen in as we discuss these questions and promote a few of our favorite titles. Join us for our next episode when we read The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin. As always, thanks for listening! Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @blackchicklit or check us out on Instagram at @bclpodcast. Links: Just in case you missed the memo,Black people have always been around, thanks. The Pew Research Center wants to know who’s not reading books? I don’t know how we missed this original story, but, yes, quality genre fiction is just as good as quality literary fiction. This chat was inspired by an article published by the School Library Journal that discussed the percentages of published children’s books featuring characters from diverse backgrounds. (A readable version of that graphic.) Data were collected by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.