Book Club Appetizer

Today's guest is USA Today bestselling author and native New Yorker Kwana Jackson. Aside from her career as an author, Kwana is also a longtime advocate of diversity and equality in the romance genre, and a successful clothing designer who spent a decade creating women's sportswear for various fashion houses. Her novel REAL MEN KNIT is a heartfelt romance that takes place in a beloved Harlem knitting shop, and Booklist raved that "“Jackson crafts a cute friends-to-lovers romance with a diverse cast of characters that emphasizes the importance of community and found family." So here's Erin Leafe (of the romance podcast LEARNING THE TROPES) in conversation with author Kwana Jackson. Praise for REAL MEN KNIT: “If you’re looking for an easy charmer, this is the novel for you.”—Shondaland "A big-hearted, warm, funny story of community, family and unexpected romance, Real Men Knit is an absolute winner. Kwana Jackson never fails to give me exactly what I want in a book: a messy family, characters who

Frances Cha's novel IF I HAD YOUR FACE is a riveting debut set in contemporary Seoul, Korea, about four young women making their way in a world defined by impossible standards of beauty, after-hours room salons catering to wealthy men, ruthless social hierarchies, and K-pop mania. Here she is in conversation with Random House's Taylor Noel. Praise for IF I HAD YOUR FACE: "If I Had Your Face isn’t just a good book—it’s a book we need, badly. . . . The vivid characters at the novel’s core make for a compelling read, and in a time of such global division, hopefully a uniting one. . . . If you read one book this month, make it If I Had Your Face.”—InStyle “Magnificent . . . With unblinking focus, [Cha] confronts some of the darkest consequences of contemporary gender inequity.”—Booklist (starred review) “Searing . . . Essential reading in what Jia Tolentino memorably called the age of Instagram face.”—Vogue (UK)

Today's discussion is between Laura Huang, author of EDGE: TURNING ADVERSITY INTO ADVANTAGE, and Arlan Hamilton, author of IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME. Laura gets Arlan to discuss her personal journey from sleeping on the floor of the San Francisco airport to now being an important force of change within the venture capitalism business. Arlan shares her hard won wisdom as a black, gay woman who broke into the boys’ club of Silicon Valley, and provides an empowering guide to finding your voice, working your way into any room you want to be in, and achieving your own dreams. Here's Lura Huang in conversation with Arlan Hamilton. Praise for IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME: “A hero’s tale of what’s possible when we unlock our potential, continue the search for knowledge, and draw on our lived experiences to guide us through the darkest moments.”—Stacey Abrams "Hamilton’s story speaks to all the would-be entrepreneurs and dreamers out there. She brings a unique perspective that has enabled her to see opportunities that others

Today's guest is Adam Resnick, an Emmy Award winner who has written on Late Night with David Letterman, The Larry Sanders Show, HBO's Divorce, and who co-created the cult favorites CABIN BOY and GET A LIFE. As an author Resnick penned the darkly comedic essay collection WILL NOT ATTEND, which Rolling Stone called "An anti-social work of art" and the Chicago Tribune praised as "A biting, darkly hilarious collection of personal essays that begs to be read aloud." Here's Adam Resnick in conversation with Penguin Random House Video Director Pat Stango. Praise for Will Not Attend “Writing a collection of short stories is a very difficult thing to do. These Adam Resnick stories are great. You read one and think, that was so well done maybe I’ll read another. You think, the next one can’t be as good, and it’s even better. I hope you read this book. It’s funny, smart and thoughtful; and it’s funny, smart and thoughtful. I loved it. I think you will as well. Did I mention I loved it? Happy reading.

On today's show we have the acerbic R. Eric Thomas, a senior staff writer at Elle.com and author of the funny and touching essay collection HERE FOR IT: HOW TO SAVE YOUR SOUL IN AMERICA, which none other than Lin Manuel-Miranda called "Sedaris-level, laugh-out-loud funny." Among many other topics, Eric discusses the ridiculous nature of pop culture in the age of quarantine. Here's R. Eric Thomas in conversation with Read It Forward senior editor Abbe Wright. About HERE FOR IT In essays by turns hysterical and heartfelt, Thomas reexamines what it means to be an “other” through the lens of his own life experience. He explores the two worlds of his childhood: the barren urban landscape where his parents’ house was an anomalous bright spot, and the Eden-like school they sent him to in white suburbia. Here for It will resonate deeply and joyfully with everyone who has ever felt pushed to the margins, struggled with self-acceptance, or wished to shine more brightly in a dark world. Stay here for it—the f

The Thurber Prize-winning author John Kenney (the novel TALK TO ME and the collection LOVE POEMS FOR MARRIED PEOPLE) brings us the lighter side of being trapped inside for weeks on end. John and his editor Sally Kim discuss, among other things, what it means to be "pants drunk" during a pandemic in this fun conversation. ABOUT LOVE POEMS FOR ANXIOUS PEOPLE With the same brilliant wit and hilarious realism that made Love Poems for Married People and Love Poems for People with Children such hits, John Kenney is back with a brand new collection of poems, this time taking on one of the most common feelings in our day-and-age: anxiety. Kenney covers it all, from awkward social interactions and insomnia to nervous ticks and writing and rewriting that email. If you enjoy this podcast and would like to help it reach more listeners, feel free to leave us a 5-star review. For more information on our authors please visit PenguinRandomHouse.com Follow us on: Twitter @penguinrandom Instagram @penguinrandomhouse

Emma Straub is the author of the new novel ALL ADULTS HERE and proprietor of BOOKS ARE MAGIC in Brooklyn, NY. Today she discusses what it's like being an author and bookstore owner, and the unique challenges that both of those pose today. In conversation with our own Amy Brinker, Emma lets us know what she's reading, how she's preparing for the launch of her latest book, and which books are inspiring her right now. ABOUT THE BOOK: In All Adults Here, Emma Straub’s unique alchemy of wisdom, humor, and insight come together in a deeply satisfying story about adult siblings, aging parents, high school boyfriends, middle school mean girls, the lifelong effects of birth order, and all the other things that follow us into adulthood, whether we like them to or not. If you enjoy this podcast and would like to help it reach more listeners, feel free to leave us a 5-star review. For more information on our authors please visit PenguinRandomHouse.com Follow us on: Twitter @penguinrandom Instagram @penguinrandomhouse

Go behind the scenes of TV's The Office with Andy Greene, author of THE OFFICE: THE UNTOLD STORY. In conversation with fellow author Rob Sheffield (LOVE IS A MIX TAPE), Andy discusses his extensive oral history of the most popular sitcom of the 2000s. They share inside information about the show's development, how Bob Odenkirk almost won the role of Michael Scott, and why The Office still endures as one of the most watched shows today. ABOUT THE BOOK: In his brand-new oral history, The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s, Greene will take readers behind the scenes of their favorite moments and characters. Greene gives us the true inside story behind the entire show, from its origins on the BBC through its impressive nine-season run in America, with in-depth research and exclusive interviews. If you enjoy this podcast and would like to help it reach more listeners, feel free to leave us a 5-star review. For more information on our authors please visit PenguinRandomHouse.com Follow us o

Celeste Headlee is an award-winning journalist and the author of DO NOTHING. In this conversation with her book editor Michele Eniclerico, Celeste gives practical advice on how we can manage our work-life balances while working from home, and how to keep social media from overtaking our lives. She also discusses her book DO NOTHING, which illuminates a new path ahead, seeking to institute a global shift in our thinking so we can stop sabotaging our well-being, put work aside, and start living instead of doing. DO NOTHING by Celeste Headlee Pulling together threads from history, neuroscience, social science, and even paleontology, Headlee examines long-held assumptions about time use, idleness, hard work, and even our ultimate goals. Her research reveals that the habits we cling to are doing us harm; they developed recently in human history, which means they are habits that can, and must, be broken. It’s time to reverse the trend that’s making us all sadder, sicker, and less productive, and return to a way of

Erik Larson— bestselling author of THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY and DEAD WAKE— discusses his latest, THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE. The book covers a year in the life of Winston Churchill at the height of World War 2. Erik talks about the leadership qualities of Churchill, how the citizens handled the threat of constant bombing, and whether bravery can be passed along. He also compares the situation we're currently facing with that of London during the bombings, and how the government leadership of that time differs from ours today. Join Erik Larson in conversation with Abbe Wright (READ IT FORWARD's Senior Editor) THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE by Erik Larson The author of The Devil in the White City and Dead Wake delivers a fresh and compelling portrait of Winston Churchill and London during the Blitz. If you enjoy this podcast and would like to help it reach more listeners, feel free to leave us a 5-star review. For more information on our authors please visit PenguinRandomHouse.com Follow us on: Twitter @penguinran

Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of the bestselling novel DAISY JONES AND THE SIX, joins us to discuss how she's balancing parenting a toddler and working on her new book during these trying times. In conversation with her friend Natasha Minoso (social media manager for Penguin Random House), Taylor talks about her current reading recommendations (romance! Nora Ephron!), how book culture is adapting to face the moment, and how she's adjusting her own typically Type-A expectations. If you enjoy this podcast and would like to help it reach more listeners, feel free to leave us a 5-star review. Taylor's DAISY JONES AND THE SIX is a gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup. For more information on our authors please visit PenguinRandomHouse.com Follow us on: Twitter @penguinrandom Instagram @penguinrandomhouse

Welcome to Books Connect Us from Penguin Random House. This is a brand new podcast about staying connected with each other, and the stories and authors who inspire us. In these lively interviews your favorite authors will discuss their own books, provide recommendations for what they’re reading and watching, and help put into context some of the issues we are all currently facing. Upcoming guests include Taylor Jenkins Reid (DAISY JONES AND THE SIX), Celeste Headlee (DO NOTHING), Erik Larson (THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE), and more. The first episode premieres this Monday April 6 with Taylor Jenkins Reid, so feel free to subscribe right now. We are excited to share these conversations with you and remind everyone that even in these troubled times, BOOKS CONNECT US. For more information on our authors please visit PenguinRandomHouse.com Follow us on: Twitter @penguinrandom Instagram @penguinrandomhouse Facebook

Read it Forward editors Abbe and Emma discuss going from no money to new money in THE WINDFALL by Diksha Basu and Abbe Wright interviews the author.

Abbe Wright interviews LGBTQ activist and author Jennifer Finney Boylan about her new novel, LONG BLACK VEIL, a thriller about the price of secrecy.

We speak to author Amor Towles about his latest work of historical fiction A Gentleman in Moscow.