This week, R. Eric Thomas, TV writer and author of Congratulations, The Best Is Over!, and Alex Abad-Santos, senior correspondent for Vox, joined us to reflect on the end of the writers’ strike and the 20th anniversary of the pumpkin spice latte.


Then, we revel in the best new books coming out this fall! We called up some of our favorite readers and writers to find out what they’re most excited to read.


Here are the titles in order of when they were mentioned in the episode. For links and full descriptions, head to our website!


‘The Woman in Me’ by Britney Spears

‘Same Bed Different Dreams’ by Ed Park

‘How to Be Multiple: The Philosophy of Twins’ by Helena de Bres

‘Iron Flame’ by Rebecca Yarros

‘Rouge’ by Mona Awad

‘Organ Meats’ by K-Ming Chang

‘A Haunting on the Hill’ by Elizabeth Hand

‘Edith Holler’ By Edward Carey

‘The Reformatory’ by By Tananarive Due

‘The Vaster Wilds’ by Lauren Groff (Nerdette Book Club pick!)

‘Land of Milk and Honey’ by C Pam Zhang (Nerdette Book Club pick!)

‘Roaming’ by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki

‘Vampires of El Norte’ by Isabel Cañas

‘The Iliad’ translated by Emily Wilson

‘The Vulnerables’ by Sigrid Nunez

‘Family Lore’ by Elizabeth Acevedo

‘North Woods’ by Daniel Mason

‘The Unsettled’ by Ayana Mathis