The book club you’ve been longing for. One book per month, 12 books per year. Featuring: In-depth discussion, hilarious guests, strong opinions, dramatic readings, bad words and author interviews, if they’ll let us. New monthly reads announced on the second Friday of every month. Bits and book clubs…
Chase Smith, Press Play Podcasts, Brookes May
The Books with Brookes podcast is an absolute gem for any book lover out there. From the moment you press play, you are immediately drawn in by Brookes' intelligence and passion for literature. Her book selections and reviews are always on point, showcasing her deep understanding of the material without spoiling it for listeners. It's refreshing to find a podcast that can dissect and analyze books in such an engaging way.
One of the best aspects of The Books with Brookes podcast is how Brookes and her guests highlight specific parts of the books they discuss. They manage to give enough insight to pique your interest, but never reveal too much to spoil the reading experience. This delicate balance allows for a truly enjoyable listening experience that leaves you excited to dive into the recommended books yourself.
Furthermore, Brookes herself is an absolute joy to listen to. Her humor, warmth, and captivating storytelling abilities make you feel like you're sitting right beside her, sipping wine and discussing books together. Her voice is perfectly suited for podcasting, drawing listeners in with its soothing yet engaging tone. It's no wonder why this podcast has become a favorite among many book enthusiasts.
In terms of drawbacks, it's challenging to find any major faults with The Books with Brookes podcast. Some listeners may prefer a more structured format or longer episodes depending on their personal preferences, but these are minor quibbles that do not take away from the overall quality of the show.
In conclusion, The Books with Brookes podcast is a must-listen for any book lover seeking insightful discussions and recommendations. With its exceptional host, engaging content, and seamless navigation between analysis and avoiding spoilers, this podcast perfectly balances entertainment and education. It's a delightful addition to any avid reader's playlist and will leave you eagerly awaiting each new episode.
Chase Smith, Founder/CEO of Press Play Podcasts, offers a final message to the P3 family.
Beth joins us to discuss our spookiest read of the year in honor of Halloween: Pet Sematary. This classic horror story contained a lot of classic Stephen King tropes as well as some new, surprising ones. This episode is presented by Uproar Coaching: productivity without punishment. Get 10% off with promo code P3. Visit: https://www.uproarcoaching.com/busy-bitch-productivity-program For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Chelsea joins to discuss our September read, The One, which has a fantastic premise: billion-dollar tech company, Match Your DNA, will find your genetic soulmate for the low-low cost of $10. What does this mean for the future of marriage, relationships and society? This episode is presented by Uproar Coaching: productivity without punishment. Get 10% off with promo code P3. Visit: https://www.uproarcoaching.com/busy-bitch-productivity-program For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
A few members of the book club join to discuss individual stories in Ted Chiang's latest short story compilation, Exhalation. These mind-bending stories have us contemplating all of life's biggest questions like do we have free will? What constitutes being “alive?” What is the purpose of life? And so much more. This episode is presented by Uproar Coaching: productivity without punishment. Get 10% off with promo code P3. Visit: https://www.uproarcoaching.com/busy-bitch-productivity-program
Beth joins Brookes for a lively discussion on morality, integrity and true love after reading 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand. Hilderbrand is the queen of summer romance and she delivers with this romp of a tale. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Nick joins Brookes for a discussion of this murder mystery set in Scotland called Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney. We can't keep up with all the twists in this one! For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
In another special LIVE book club episode, seven Books with Brookes members join to discuss The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. This WWII historical fiction follows the friendships and dramas of three female code-breakers at the infamous Bletchley Park. This book was a hit! Books with Brookes is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
In this very special LIVE book club episode, five Books with Brookes members join to discuss We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker. This dense, genre-bending Western/thriller/murder mystery/family drama came with rave reviews. The book club found much to discuss! Books with Brookes is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
The book club discusses the February book, Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. When bestselling erotica novelist, Eva Mercy, reconnects with Pulitzer-winning author Shane Hall, sparks fly beyond the page. This romance for February was just what the book club wanted! Books with Brookes is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
The book club discusses the January book, Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price, Ph.D. From the Puritanical origins on the morality of hard work all the way to today's modern, work-from-home society, this book examines what “laziness” means. A thought-provoking discussion of how hard we often are on ourselves and on each other. Books with Brookes is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
From authors like the mystery powerhouse, Agatha Christie to the modern bestseller, Kristin Hannah, our book club members share the titles of their very favorite books from the past year. Listen in for recommendations to add to your list in 2022! Books with Brookes is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Brookes goes solo on this short episode while everyone is on holiday vacation to discuss the December 2021 book club book, Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie. The 19th book in the Hercule Poirot series, this Christmas crime drama stars the Lee family and their many secrets and insecurities. The ultimate holiday whodunnit! Books with Brookes is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Brookes interviews Ruth Lichtman, an accomplished audiobook director at Penguin Random House Audio who has worked with top talent like Nick Offerman and Phoebe Robinson. Learn more about Ruth on her website: https://www.rflichtman.com/audio Books with Brookes is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
A magnificent generational saga that charts a family's rise and fall,” Greenwood by Michael Christie is a 500+ page examination of the choices we are forced to make for, by and alongside family. This is an extremely epic book with dystopian, post-apocalyptic vibes mixed with Forrest Gump-esque historical timelines. Carrie, who suggested this book, joins the podcast to discuss. Books with Brookes is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
A fun interview with Bob May (that's right - Brookes's dad!) author of The Blue Lady, a hot, humid tale of three brief days in 1959. For more information or to order a copy of The Blue Lady, visit: https://bobmayauthor.com/ Books with Brookes is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com www.pressplaypodcasts.com
One of the most iconic ghost-stories of all time: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson was published in 1959 and has set the tone for every spooky story to follow. Beth joins the podcast to discuss this iconic haunted horror story. Books with Brookes is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Happy Season Three of Books with Brookes! To kick off the new season, several members of the Books with Brookes book club join to discuss iconic books that became movies and debate which one is better; the book or the movie? Duos include: The Shining, The Hunger Games and Jurassic Park. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is an imaginative story about regret and possibility. Meaghan joins the podcast for the first time to discuss this emotional read that has us wondering about what could have been if we'd made different choices. If you are in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, use the contact info below to get help. United States: Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (the Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Crisis workers are available 24 hours a day. Calls are free and confidential. Books with Brookes is part of the Press Play Podcast Network. The show is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Tracey Lange, the author of our August 2021 Books with Brookes pick, We Are the Brennans, joins the podcast! We talk about her incredible first-time publishing experience with Celadon Books and ask a bunch of questions about her incredible novel, which received thumbs up all around from book club members in August. Books with Brookes is part of the Press Play Podcast Network. The show is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange is all about family so, appropriately, Brookes's MOM joins the podcast to discuss! This brand new release from Celadon was a Book of the Month debut pick for July and has been receiving extremely positive reviews worldwide. Look out for an interview with the author in a separate episode in September. Read along and listen in! Books with Brookes is part of the Press Play Podcast Network. The show is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Where the Crawdads sing is an epically popular, beloved modern novel. The Books with Brookes book club read it in 2019 and you can hear our episode on it in Episode 3. However, it's come to light fairly recently that Delia Owens - and her husband Mark Owens - have a dark and dangerous past, the influence of which can be felt and read in her New York Times bestseller. As it turns out, Mark and Delia Owens are wanted for questioning by the Zambian government for the 1996 death of an alleged poacher, whose shooting was caught on camera by an ABC film crew working alongside Merideth Viera. Hear the story on today's episode. Articles for reference: The New Yorker: The Hunted Slate: The Dark History Behind the Year's Bestselling Debut Novel Bustle: The Author Of One Of 2018's Biggest Books Has A Strange Connection To A Real Murder Mystery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delia_Owens https://www.deliaowens.com/ Books with Brookes is produced by Mo Barrow with theme music by Jonathan Allen. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Carrie joins Brookes for a chat on July's book, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. This 2019 New York Times Bestseller and previous Reese's Book Club pick is packed with racial tensions, relationship drama, and modern problems caused by technology and the internet. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Due to a thunderstorm in Chicago, the Books with Brookes book club gathers partially in person and partially on Zoom for this special LIVE episode discussion of our June 2021 book, A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
The follow-up joint episode with the ladies of the Book Dream Podcast! Eve and Julie discuss the nontraditional books they assigned each other to read last month: A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers, Stories of Your Life and Others (Arrival) by Ted Chiang, and Hangin' Out with CC by Francine Pascale. High ratings for two of the three! Book Dreams Podcast is for anyone who misses English class. https://www.bookdreamspodcast.com/ For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Carrie, a new mom herself, joins Brookes for this month’s discussion bringing a unique perspective to this memoir about a “reluctant” parent. They talk poetry, finding that elusive work-life balance, and how really, everyone just wants to be a baby again. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Eve and Julie from Book Dreams, a podcast for everyone who loves books and misses English class, join Brookes for a joint mini episode. Brookes, Eve and Julie assign each other books to read this month that they wouldn’t ordinarily recommend. The selections are diverse and interesting and maybe… “weird?” Come back next month to hear the discussion! https://www.bookdreamspodcast.com/ For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Chelsea is BACK on the podcast to talk about the opposite experience from last month… a book she LOVES! Listen in as we gab family, friendship and fire children in Kevin Wilson’s witty masterpiece from 2019, Nothing to See Here. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Everyone has a book or two that for, for some reason, they’ve never cracked. This is a discussion of our shameful to be read secrets. Three book club members discuss the books we’ve never read (classics, contemporaries, famous series and more), why we haven’t gotten to them and why we might feel weird about it. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Chelsea joins Brookes to discuss (and complain about) the many great characters and plot points in this complicated, modern thriller from Harlan Coben. An intricate, detailed foray into family dynamics and political motivation, this is a head scratcher of a mystery with maybe not as much “thrill” as we’d hoped. For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
In this extremely uplifting and informative episode, Brookes chats with Momo’s Book Club Founder, Mo Phillips-Spotts. Momo’s Book Club is a monthly subscription service that hand-selects childrens’ books that are as diverse as the world. Mo shares her favorite books, authors and inspiration and we reminisce about developing a love for reading as children. https://momosbookclub.cratejoy.com// For sponsorship plans and more information, please email: admin@pressplaypodcasts.com | www.pressplaypodcasts.com
Charlie joins Brookes to dissect this Goodreads Best Romance 2020 nominee. A tale of friendship and expectations, this is definitely a book you won’t be able to put down. https://pressplaypodcasts.com/
Brookes chats with book club member Carly, about her FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. This 2016 best seller is set in Chicago and will blow your mind. Let’s get into it. https://pressplaypodcasts.com/
The first book in an acclaimed four-part fantasy series by Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses, is a true escape to a magical fairyland. Maggie joins Brookes to hash out the sexy details and argue over which High Fae is hottest. https://pressplaypodcasts.com/
Brookes recommends her Top 10 Books of 2020 to fill out your 2021 reading wish list. Recommended reads include: Dear Edward by (previously recommended in Season 2, Episode 6), The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and The Book of Longings. https://pressplaypodcasts.com/
Published in 2008, this collection of satirical David Sedaris essays, all loosely holiday themed, may not have aged well. Beth joins Brookes to discuss the stories, starting with his most famous essay about his time as a department store Elf, Santaland Diaries.
This very special bonus episode is a year-in review list of our 12 FAVORITE books the year! The book club comes together to reflect on the best books they read in 2020. It’s a super fun list of inspiring books, books you can’t put down, books that teach you stuff, books that help you escape and more - we’ve got something for everyone! https://pressplaypodcasts.com/
Books with Brookes member Carrie joins Brookes as we broaden our horizons discussing this gorgeous, heartbreaking book set in Nigeria.
Children’s book author, JD Hyman, joins Brookes to chat self-publishing, inspiration and the challenges and rewards of being a writer.
Books with Brookes member Emily joins Brookes so they can scare each other with this spooky southern story featuring monsters in the woods.
Broadway actor and horror genre enthusiast, John Rapson, convinces Brookes (and you) that scary books are beautiful and you should read them, especially this October. Plus, book recommendations! October 2020 Books with Brookes pick is Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman. Read along and listen in!
Erica joins Brookes for our monthly book talk on the #metoo movement murder mystery, Whisper Network, that took book clubs by storm in 2019.
Carrie and Nick join Brookes virtually for a socially-distanced monthly book talk on the legal thriller that established the genre and launched the career of a legend: The Firm by John Grisham.
What a world. An update on Books with Brookes Pandemic Book Club plus information on our March book, The Firm by John Grisham. Reading is a healthy escape from this madness. Let’s read together!
Charlie joins Brookes for our monthly book talk on the “new adult” political romance, Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. We cried, we laughed, we played “hot or not.”
Laura joins Brookes to hash out the answers to some of life's biggest questions for January's book talk on The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. If someone could tell you the day that you’ll die… would you want to know? Discuss.
In this minisode, Brookes reveals the February 2020 book club book! Why she picked it, interesting tidbits, and a read of the back cover. No spoilers! Read along and listen in.
Bi-coastal Books with Brookes member, Laura Nedbal, joins the podcast to discuss heartbreak, travel and aging gracefully in the 2018 Pulitzer Prize winner, Less by Andrew Sean Greer.
Derek is back on the podcast with Brookes to talk southern writing, the sounds and smells of the holidays, and our love of great prose about dogs.
Carrie and Nick join Brookes to talk spies, world wars, love, courage and bravery in this best-selling historical fiction read for November, The Alice Network.
Brookes discusses what constitutes a “strong female character” in fiction and recommends a few books that feature them. Great holiday gift ideas. No spoilers!
Minisode about our December 2019 book! Why I picked it, interesting tidbits, author information and a read of the back cover. No spoilers!
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