Book club picks for the rest of 2025!

Jul 04, 2025

Helloooooooo! This week was particularly devastating, news-wise. My heart breaks for my public radio comrades, and that’s the least of it. All I can say is, dissent is patriotic. (I used to have a button that said that, and I wore it to work one Fourth of July at the Gold-Rush themed park I worked at, and my boss was NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. But I believed it when I was 17 and I believe it even more strongly now.)

In a WILD FIT OF PRODUCTIVITY AND DECISIVENESS, I’ve picked out the book club selections for the rest of the year! (Ask me what decisions I’ve avoided making while focusing on these ones, lol!)

In related news, I cannot believe we’re already halfway through 2025. Time keeps on slipping, as they say, and it’s been hitting me extra hard lately.

The other day, as I often do these days, I found myself chatting with a woman as her dog and Buffy sniffed each other’s nethers.

She said she got her dog during the pandemic, when the pup was 2. Now, she’s 7.

I understand math. Like, yes, I know 2025-2020 = 5. I know 2 + 5 = 7! But when that person told me she got her dog during the pandemic and it’s 7 now, MY BRAIN STOPPED WORKING.

Tally another one up for “What is time?”, I guess!

Five books you should read along with the GRETAGRAM book club this year

August: These Heathens by Mia McKenzie

Here’s what I know about this book: my friend Traci Thomas from loved it. Traci and I often disagree on books, but when our tastes alighn, MAGIC HAPPENS. So I’m excited to read this one, and of course to listen to Traci’s interview withe the author on her podcast The Stacks! The book is out now, so you can start reading whenever you want!

September: To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage

I also know very little about this one, except the cover is cool, and it’s about an Cherokee woman who wants to go to space, and I think that sounds cool!!! (Out Sept. 2.)

October: What a Time to Be Alive by Jade Chang

I absolutely loved Jade’s first novel, The Wangs vs. the World. Between that, the cover art, and the title itself, I’m sold! (Out Sept. 30.)

November Heart the Lover by Lily King

I will never forget listening to Writers & Lovers while driving back from the northern burbs after getting an emissions test, and crying over the perfect sentence. So obviously I will read everything Lily writes from here on out, and you should, too. (Out Sept. 30)

December Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Oyinkan’s debut novel My Sister the Serial Killer was so unique and strange and fun, so I was thrilled to see she has a new book coming soon. (Out Nov. 4.)

In the coming weeks, I’ll pick dates for the Zoom meetings for each of these. All are welcome to come to the discussions! If you’ve never attended before, I encourage you to do so if you’re able — we’re building a lovely community of smart, savvy readers, and the more the merrier!

That’s it for this week — I hope you all have lovely weekends, and I’ll talk to you soon!

xoxoxo,