YA Podcast

125. Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao

Eunice and Teffer review Rent a Boyfriend, Gloria Chao’s third book! We talk (a lot) about family dynamics, boundaries, compassion, and peer pressure. Also a little about love, and a lot about writing!

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124. Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala

This week Bailey and Teffer talk about a shiny new release: Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala! We’re chatting about crafts, glassblowing, competition shows, Boston, crafting in competition shows in Boston, love, parents, art, passion, and so much more!

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123. Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant

This week, we review Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant! Kadi, Eunice, and Teffer talk about baking, relationships, baking relationships, and relationships with baking, in this SPOILER-FREE review of this great new release!

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122. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

This week, we’re reviewing Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas! This review is SPOILER-FREE! Kadi and Teffer talk about parenting, representation of Black fathers, the 90’s, and, of course, who can get it.

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121. Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry

We wrap up our spirituality miniseries with Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry. Bailey and Teffer discuss interfaith community, changing things from the inside versus changing from the outside, and our own relationships with church, spirituality, and faith.

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120. Bombay Blues by Tanuja Desai Hidier

We continue our series on religion and spirituality with Bombay Blues by Tanuja Desai Hidier! Kadi and Teffer talk about the particular introspection of being 19, what makes a really good travel book, and face our own personal discomforts around religion. The connection was a bit rough at the beginning because a storm was rolling in – sorry!

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119. Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali

We get chatting about a miniseries on faith, religion, and spirituality, starting with Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali. Eunice and Teffer talk about the importance of diverse faith communities, what it means to write responsibly about religion, and why we want to see more books that deal with faith coming from big presses!

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117. Dash & Lily: Series Review

SPOILERS: This review contains massive spoilers for the entirety of the Netflix series! You’ve been warned! After reviewing Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares back in 2018, Bailey and Teffer return to review the new Netflix series Dash & Lily! We argue about whether or not it’s good, whose faces need punching, and romance… but it might surprise you who’s getting mushy this time.

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116. Melanin in YA with Melody Simpson

This week, Melody Simpson of Melanin in YA joins Teffer to talk about her "no excuses database" of the YA publishing world. We talk about the recent surge of representation in YA, the experiences that led her to create this database, and what "no excuses" really means.

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115. This Place: 150 Years Retold

Kadi and Teffer round off the month with a gorgeous new release. This is the first time we’ve reviewed a graphic novel on the show! We talk about history, reparations, and the developing Indigenous representation we hope to see in YA lit going forward. Also, we’re tired. Are you tired? This year has been rough. We talk about that, too.

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