The Stacks Pairings: June 2024
Voicey novels, memoirs with depth, rich people behaving badly, and CoHo. Books to pair with all The Stacks episodes this month.
Every month I’m sharing book pairings for The Stacks episodes. It will feature the books we covered on the podcast for the month matched to two books I think go nicely with them. So if you loved the episode, loved the author, or loved the book, you will have a few more books to add to your TBR! Please know, I have not always read every book suggested here.
Melissa Mogollon on The Stacks
Debut author Melissa Mogollon joined the podcast to discuss her voicey novel, Oye. We talk about how she found writing in the POV of a teenager and completely in dialogue.
Tehrangeles by Porochista Khakpour
If you want voicey and teenagers, that is exactly what you’ll get with this modern take on Little Women, featuring a group of Iranian-American sisters on the eve of landing a big reality TV show.
Yolk by Mary H. K. Choi
If you’re looking for a book with incredibly complex young adults dealing with major life issues you’ve gotta read Yolk (or any of Choi’s books).
Chelsea Devantez on The Stacks
Good friend of the pod and celebrity memoir conosuier, Chelsea Devantez, wrote her own memoir and she came on to talk all about it and how her work as a critic of celebrity memoirs influenced her own work, plus her big family secret.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
What makes this a perfect pairing for I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This is that it delivers a balance of sharp comedy writing with real life family dysfunction and thoughtful reflections on life.
You Should Be Grateful: Stories of Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption by Angela Tucker
Transracial adoption and donor conception are two very different things, however there are a lot of similarities around identity, anger, and family relationships that come up in both of these situations (and books).
Akwaeke Emezi on The Stacks
Getting to talk with Akwaeke Emezi about rich people behaving badly, imagination, and their latest book Little Rot was the good vibes I needed this month.
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
I had this book in my head the entire time I read Little Rot. Both books deal with very rich people being reckless with sex and violence, along with an edge of your seat ick factor that is skin crawlingly good. These books are not for the faint of heart.
Out by Natsuo Kirino (translated by Stephen B Snyder)
The story of a woman who kills her husband and asks her three friends to help her cover it up. It pairs well because of the suspense, beautiful writing, and really fucked up circumstances.
The Stacks Book Club on It Ends with Us
I never thought we’d read a Colleen Hoover book for The Stacks, but I have to say, even though the book was…not for me, the conversations it brought up around craft, popularity, audience, and domestic violence were well worth it.
No Visible Bruises: What We Don't Know about Domestic Violence Can Kill Us by Rachel Louise Snyder
This is one of the most important books on domestic violence, and how and why women stay or leave. It features real life stories and the complicated and conflicting realities that play into intimate partner violence. A sobering look at what Hoover fictionalized in It Ends with Us.
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
I haven’t read this book myself, but when I asked The Stacks Pack for novels that show domestic violence in realistic ways, this is what they said. I look forward to reading this.
What books would you pair with this month’s episodes of The Stacks? Tell me in the comments.
+1 on Yolk. The sister dynamic in the book is such an engaging exploration of sibling dynamics. The book also highlights the terrible shortcomings of the American health care system, which is a critique I am always here for. Suffice it to say, I've been awaiting to see what Mary H. K. Choi gives us next. I almost purchased Oye at the bookstore this evening... maybe I should listen to it on audio given the phone call format of the novel. The Melissa Mogollon episode was great!
I just listened to Oye and loved it, so I definitely need to catch up on that edition of the podcast! I loved Yolk as well, which means I guess Tehrangeles is a must-read ☺ One I would pair with these is How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz - this is very voicey and outstanding on audio!