

The Fake Ass Book Club
Moni & Kat
The Book Club is Fake but the Talk is REAL! The F.A.B. Podcast serves cocktails while also serving up stories with a side dish of humor, a sprinkle of sarcasm, and an occasional expletive as garnish. Every hump day, tune in as Moni and Kat playfully and thoughtfully explore compelling books and topics as they relate to the human experience, filtered through the lens as black women in the midwest. Let each episode illustrate the power of storytelling and how it connects us all. This podcast is a reason for them to connect as friends, as individuals, and with their listeners. It’s like therapy you didn't know you needed...along with some laughs! You may come for the books but you'll stay for the vibes!!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 2, 2025 • 58min
Moni and Kat review Tyler Perry's "Straw"
Welcome back FAB FAM! This week, the ladies reluctanly reviewed Tyler Perry's straw. In Straw, Tyler Perry delivers a tense psychological drama that explores the breaking point of a seemingly ordinary woman pushed to her emotional and moral limits. The story centers on a hardworking, mild-mannered single mother who has spent years quietly enduring life's burdens—strained relationships, financial hardship, and systemic inequities. But when one final, seemingly minor injustice occurs—the "last straw"—it unleashes a chain of events that challenges her identity, ethics, and the limits of believability! Tap in to hear Moni and Kat break down this melodramatic mess of a movie! Cheers!! *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni:To anyone who has ever lost a childKat: To Karen Read and her not guilty verdict.About Straw: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_(film)About Tyler Perry: https://tylerperry.com/tyler/story/**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Jun 25, 2025 • 1h 2min
AITA: Fake Ass Book Club Edition
In this hilarious and heartfelt episode inspired by The Fake Ass Book Club itself—plus a dash of The Office Ladies and everyone's favorite guilty pleasure, AITA—your hosts dive into the drama, joy, and occasional chaos of real-life book clubs. After catching an episode where The Office Ladies talk about book club drama, Moni and Kat were inspired to hit Reddit and uncover some of the funny and most relatable book club drama out there. From petty squabbles over genre picks, to full-on fighting couples, this episode explores how something as innocent as a monthly read can turn into a battlefield of opinions and egos. The hosts weigh in on Reddit’s most pressing book club AITA (Am I The Asshole?) dilemmas. Whether you're a book club newbie or a seasoned group-chat veteran, this episode is for anyone who's ever tried to mix wine, literature, and strong personalities and lived to tell the tale. Cheers!!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To the 90 days of midwest summer! Kat: To City Yoga and to the Office Ladies Podcast for inspiring this week's episode**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Jun 18, 2025 • 58min
Moni & Kat review: " The White Lotus" Season 3
Welcome back FAB Fam! This week our hosts are reviewing Season 3 of HBO series,The White Lotus, where death, daddy issues, and emotional debt float just beneath the surface of Thailand’s shores. ⚠️ Spoiler alert: If you haven’t seen the season, proceed with caution, we’re breaking it ALL the way down. We’re unpacking the twists, truths, and tensions behind the show’s most haunting season yet! From Rick’s shocking unraveling to Belinda’s long-awaited glow-up, we’re diving into the web of money, memory, and manipulation that defines Mike White’s most ambitious chapter so far.Who survived? Who deserved better? It's all here!! Grab a drink and listen in as we take the trip of a lifetime,"Sawasdee ka" (สวัสดีค่ะ). *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To all of us surviving this era in history!! It is crazy out here.Kat: To gossip!About the Series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Lotus_season_3**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Jun 12, 2025 • 1h 17min
Moni and Kat review: 'Sex and the City' by Candace Bushnell
Welcome back! This week, the ladies disect Sex and the City, which began as a newspaper column by Candace Bushnell for The New York Observer (1994–1996), chronicling the romantic escapades and social lives of Bushnell and her friends in New York. The columns were compiled into a 1996 book that inspired the hit HBO series, two films, and the Max revival “And Just Like That…Candace Bushnell’s alter ego, Carrie, serves as our narrator. She introduces readers to characters like Carrie, Mr. Big, and Samantha—navigating love, status, and sex in a world of privilege, parties, and heartbreak. The book isn't a traditional novel but rather a collection of loosely connected essays and vignettes. It paints a portrait of a certain type of single woman—successful, savvy, and navigating a social world where love is often transactional and appearances mean everything. You've seen them on HBO, but this is the book that started it all.*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: June bdays To Charity to all the June Baddies!!Kat: To the dads out there taking care of their kids , Happy Father’s Day to Coco Gauff for winning the US Open and Meg the Stallion and her Anime project About the Book:304 pages, Mass Market PaperbackFirst published January 1, 1996Original titleSex and the CityAudio Book 7 hours read by Cynthia NixonAbout the Author: https://www.candacebushnell.com**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Jun 4, 2025 • 1h 1min
Moni & Kat review: Fearless and Free: A Memoir by Josephine Baker
Welcome back!! This week the ladies review Fearless and Free, A memior by Josephine Baker. "Gorgeously translated into English for the first time by Anam Zafar and Sophie Lewis, Fearless and Free comprises stories and reflections in Baker’s own voice, drawn from conversations with the French writer Marcel Sauvage that began in 1926 and continued for more than 20 years afterwards. They cover her early life in St Louis, her adventures in Europe, and eventual transformation into, as Sauvage puts it, an “actress and French citizen of worldwide renown”.Dina Nayeri of the Guardian *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: Happy birthday to Josepine Baker (June 3rd), and to all my loves with June b-days!! (you know who you are!)🥰Kat: To anyone who has lost a pet, and to Season 8 of RIck and Mroty About the Book: jospehine baker bookAbout Josephine Baker:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_BakerNotes:What Now? With Trevor Noah podcast featuring Esther Perel https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DX4hSD45oambAxnqDGzCF?si=WF87Apr6RxOjO3XaIrXKHQEsther Perel blog on the relationship between Black and Jewish people: https://www.estherperel.com/blog/letters-from-esther-change-is-in-the-details**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

May 29, 2025 • 1h 12min
Moni and Kat review "Forever" on Netflix
In this spoiler filled episode, the ladies review, Forever, Netflix’s bold reimagining of Judy Blume’s iconic novel. Set in 2018 Los Angeles, this coming-of-age series follows Keisha, a track star from Crenshaw, and Justin, an aspiring musician from Park-Windsor Hills, as they navigate first love, identity, and the messy truths of growing up. They unpack how the show modernizes Blume’s themes of sex, consent, and teen self-discovery all while centering Black teens in a story that brings refreshing representation and authenticity to a classic coming-of-age tale. Tune in to find out who was team Justin or Team Keisha, Cheers!! *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To Kat and the steak tacos she brought before recording, thank you!Kat: Dave Young and Maurice Walker for the nice YouTube feedback, thank you!About the Show: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forever_(2025_TV_series)About the Creator: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_Brock_AkilThe Original Book "Forever" by Judy Blume: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forever..._(novel)12:06 Team Justin or Team Keisha1:05:37 Kat raps**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

May 21, 2025 • 1h 3min
Moni & Kat review: "Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard on You?" by George Clinton and Ben Greenman
This week on The Fake Ass Book Club, our hosts blast off into the wild, weird, and wonderfully funky world of George Clinton’s memoir, Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard on You?The ladies dive into the legacy of Clinton’s genre-bending Parliament-Funkadelic empire, exploring how his psychedelic style, industry battles, and undeniable influence helped shape not just funk, but the very DNA of hip-hop. Along the way, the crew drops hilarious sidebars, surprising confessions, and maybe even a little singing. This episode promises vibes, laughs, and that good ol' Fake Ass honesty. Buckle up, space cadets. The Mothership has landed. Cheers!! *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To myself for hilariously tricking Kat into thinking I read the book this week!Kat: To the now completed mural with Boxx the Artist and Sophia. Happy B-day Sophia and Happy b-day to all my peeps with May birthdays. To the owners of Gather 22, Pablo and Adam, the food is amazing. To the Indiana Pacers being in the finals, GO PACERS!About the Author: https://georgeclinton.com (The drink champs interview is on the site)About the Book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/brothas-be-yo-like-george**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

May 15, 2025 • 1h 2min
Moni & Kat review: "Sinners"
Welcome back F.A.B. FAM. This week the ladies sink thier teeth into Ryan Cooglers first original film and instant classic, Sinners! Sinners is a genre-blending horror set in 1932 Mississippi. This haunting tale follows twin brothers returning home to escape their past—only to find something far darker waiting for them... Vampires! As always, the crew pulls no punches, unpacking the film’s rich themes: the duality of human nature, the eternal struggle between good and evil, and how racism itself is a real-life horror story. Tune in for a conversation that’s as gripping as the film. You won’t want to miss this one. Cheers! 🚨S P O I L E R 🚨A L E R T!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are not professionals and are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our Patrons!! Much LOVE!!Moni: To storytellers everywhere, the fire keepers, the griots, to the keepers of culture everywhere, to the ones who never let us forget! Kat: To the show Living Single and the New Podcast Re-Living Single, and to Trevor Noah’s podcast, What Now? Podcast. About Ryan Coogler: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_CooglerAbout the movie: https://themoviespoiler.com/movies/sinners/Release date: April 17, 2025 (Australia) Director: Ryan CooglerRunning time: 2h 17m, MPAA rating: R, Budget: 90 million USDProducers: Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Zinzi CooglerAt the time of recording, the movie "Sinners" has grossed over $264 million worldwide. It has also earned $199.8 million domestically in the United States and Canada. **Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

May 7, 2025 • 59min
Moni & Kat review: Matriarch by Tina Knowles
In this episode, our hosts dive into Matriarch, the powerful new memoir by the iconic Tina Knowles. The ladies relive Tina's journey from a small town in Louisiana to Galveston, Texas, and eventually to the heart of pop culture. They explore her roles as a daughter, mother, entrepreneur, wife, fashion designer, and community leader. Moni and Kat also discuss the legacy of Black motherhood, the generational wisdom that shaped Beyoncé and Solange, and how Tina’s story inspires cultural pride, courage, creativity, and purpose. Just in time for Mother’s Day, this conversation is a celebration of the mothers who shape us and the stories they carry in their hearts. Cheers! *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To all the mothers out there in celebration of this episode and Mother's Day! Kat: To all the female ansestors past and future, and May the 4th!About the book: https://tinaknowlesbook.com Hardcover Published by One World,Apr 22, 2025 | 432 Pages |Audio Book 17 hours 15 minsAbout the author:https://tinaknowlesBook Cover art created by Kelani Fatai Oladimeji; https://www.bellanaija.com/2025/05/kelani-fatai-tina-knowles-bookcover**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Apr 30, 2025 • 53min
Moni & Kat review: "The Personal Librarian" by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Welcome back! This week the ladies explore "The Personal Librarian" by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray—a stunning historical fiction novel based on the real life of Belle da Costa Greene, a Black woman who passed as white to rise through the ranks of elite society in the early 1900s. Handpicked by J.P. Morgan himself, Belle becomes the personal librarian to one of the most powerful men in the world and curates a collection that would define literary prestige. But, behind her poise and power, lies a daily negotiation of identity and survival. The hosts explore Belle’s dual existence, the cost of racial passing, and the brilliance she brought to a world that would’ve rejected her if they’d known her truth. Join them as they unpack the legacy of a woman who had to erase herself to leave her mark. Cheers!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you and thank you!Moni: To ladies of the CockTales Podcast, specifically KiKi for inspiring this weeks book topic. https://www.youtube.com/channel/CockTalesKat: To Arthentic Arts and the wonderful mural project. https://www.instagram.com/p/DI3swsJx52R/?igsh=cGZkbjk3c3kxdXhiArt Effect About the life and work Belle da Costa Greene aka Belle Marion Greener https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/belle-da-costa-greene Belle da Costa Greene (Belle Marion Greener) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_da_Costa_Greenehttps://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2022/02/belle-de-costa-greene/About the authors:Victoria Christopher Murrayhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/56575.Victoria_Christopher_MurrayMarie Benedicthttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14815127.Marie_Benedict*Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!


