Get Booked Ep. #102: Hard Cheese In Your Pocket

Amanda and Jenn discuss grown-up American Girl stories, soft sci-fi, LGBTQ romance, and more in this week's episode of Get Booked. This episode is sponsored by What Counts As Love by Marian Crotty and 36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You by Vicki Grant.     Questions 1. Hi, I have just finished the latest installment of the Throne of Glass series and have read everything by Sarah J Maas, I also love most of the whole dystopian YA female lead genre ( loved the Cinder series, all the Grisha books, Red Queen, Graceling etc.) I am 20 and would read a big range of books from pretty much any genre was wondering if you had any recommendations for similar books that aren't necessarily YA ( or are I'll read anything!). A series of an author who has a lot of books of a similar type would be brilliant as once I find something I love I devour it !! Love the podcast and thank you for your help, --Holly   2. Hi ladies! When doing some cleaning, I found dozens of American Girl doll books and I was struck with nostalgia. I LOVED these books growing up - I still attribute these books with my deep love of history. As I was holding these books lovingly, I immediately thought to ask you two if you had any recommendations for "grown up" American Girl doll books. Any suggestions for historical fiction featuring strong and spunky female characters? Thanks, love the show! --Chelsea   3. Hi Amanda and Jenn, Listening to the Book Riot podcasts has increased the number of books on my TBR pile steadily for the past couple of months, thanks for all the great recommendations! What I'd like to ask you: I've read Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow this year, and I loved it. I also read both of Becky Chambers' Wayfarers books and I loved them as well. Do you have any recommendations for soft sci-fi books? Thanks! --Jill (from Belgium)   4. Hello Amanda and Jenn, First of all, I love your podcast and have discovered many books and authors because of it. You guys both do an amazing job! My recommendation request is for my 7 year-old son. He recently read Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier (thanks to your recommendation from a previous episode) and then made his way through the rest of her work with Sisters, Smile, and Drama. He's read all four of these books over the course of the last week and I would like to find some read-alikes, preferably that are part of a series, for him to read next. He has read all of the books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Captain Underpants series, and several of the Big Nate books. Thank you in advance and keep up the awesome work! --Angela   5. Hi! I'm looking for some sweet romance to dive into. I'm not much for the genre, but sometimes you just need something to squeal about. Preferably something lgbtqai - though not so much about coming out or such as a major plot detail. Something light but sweet and if the couple are non male that would also be a huge plus! Thanks! --Sonja   6. Amanda & Jenn, First off, I love the podcast! Thank you for all the great recommendations. I've written in a few times with requests, so sorry if you keep seeing my name pop up! This time I'm writing requesting recommendations for my 15 year old son. He is a rather reluctant reader but very much enjoys listening to audiobooks when we take road trips. If we don't finish the audiobook in the car he asks me to buy it for him to finish in book form. He mostly likes dystopian novels, preferably with some type of corrupt government. He's enjoyed 1984, A Clockwork Orange, Fahrenheit 451 & Ready Player One. Not in that theme he read & enjoyed The Outsiders. His book suggestions mostly come from what his friends are reading in school. I've tried a few times to pick up books I thought he would like but haven't been able to find anything he got in to. I tried The Maze Runner, The 5th Wave & I can't remember what else. Any suggestions? Thank you! --Valerie   7.I am not a "classics" reader (I didn't love Jane Eyre. I know -Who am I?!) I did like The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Can you recommend another classic or semi-classic to read next? --Andrea   Books Discussed Giveaway! bookriot.com/bookstoregiveaway The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin Moon Called by Patricia Briggs An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole Kopp Sisters books by Amy Stewart (Girl Waits With Gun) The Wanderers by Meg Howrey Provenance by Ann Leckie Eerie Elementary series by Jack Chabert (The School Is Alive) Chronicles of Claudette by Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado (Giants Beware) Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown Out on Good Behavior by Dahlia Adler Want by Cindy Pon Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Warcross by Marie Lu Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf The Living is Easy by Dorothy West