Plans Are Booked

This week we're reunited with an author we all admire. We're discussing the fiction novel debut of Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, who wrote The Undocumented Americans. This new work, Catalina, is about a young woman attending Harvard while juggling the many stressors and anxieties that come with being undocumented. We applaud Villavicencio's sharp writing in which every single word packs a punch and praise her ability to balance difficult topics with wit, humor and levity. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin previews the itinerary for her upcoming trip to London and Paris, Steph shares some ridiculous health insurance shenanigans, and Molly recaps a night out on Newbury Street. In what we're reading this week, Steph boards a submersible and Molly falls further down the One Tree Hill rabbit hole with another cast member's memoir. To follow along with all of our book picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

This week we're talking about a memoir that took all of us by surprise. Patrick Bringley leaves a prestigious job at The New Yorker to become a security guard at the MET. His story not only brings readers behind the scenes of one of the most influential centers of art in the world, but it's a powerful testimony about loss, grief, love and hope. We talk about the passages that made us cry, the importance of brevity in long-form prose, all the cool stats we learned about the MET, and how the book's illustrations make this a beautiful gift. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin shares about a new priority for 2025, Steph tells us all about her new interior design project (and we hatch a plan for a manuscript inspired by it), and Molly gushes about the movie Wicked. We close by sharing a list of books we can't wait to read in 2025. To follow along with all of our recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

Join us as we deep dive on a story that left us with so many questions. This week we discuss All Fours, a book that felt truly singular. Molly shares what compelled her to purchase it, then we opine about unlikeable narrators, a break dancing scene we can't get out of our heads, the taboo topic of menopause, and where we think this title may have come from. In our catch up this week, Steph spreads holiday cheer by bringing a mini horse to school, we share our recent tarot card readings with House of Stellium, and respond to a listener looking for true crime recommendations. In what we're reading this week, Steph finally wins a Goodreads giveaway and travels to a new version of Whoville, and Molly heads back to Stars Hollow with Kelly Bishop's memoir, The Third Gilmore Girl. We close by sharing two books we're covering in upcoming episodes if you'd like to read along with us. For all of our book picks, join us on Instagram, @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

We're back in Memoir Land this week, talking about the life of Elvis' daughter Lisa Marie Presley. The book is told from two perspectives, Lisa Marie and her daughter Riley. We talk about Elvis' super stardom, growing up in the shadow of fame, celebrity marriages, and more. All of us were moved by Riley's description of grief and we had a new appreciation for her portrayal of Daisy Jones. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin secures us tickets to see Paul Mescal in New York, Steph decorates for the holidays, and Molly hits a Goodreads milestone. We share five new books during what we're reading this week. Steph is gripped by a Rebecca Yarros second chance love story, Kaitlin is juggling two popular fiction titles, and Molly devoured two steamy romance novels. To follow along with all of our book recs, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

This week we are transported to Tree Hill, North Carolina thanks to Bethany Joy Lenz's memoir. The actress, best known for her role as Haley on One Tree Hill, has written a vulnerable and honest account of her time in a religious cult. We talk about the power of high control groups, how to recognize gaslighting, and how her story shed new light on her role on a fan favorite show. We discuss the iconic TV show, the rewatch podcast, and our hopes for Lenz in the future. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin shares about her first few nights in her new house, Steph shows gratitude as her first season volunteering at the barn winds down, and Molly gushes about Steph's cooking at Friendsgiving. In what we're reading this week, Kaitlin is starting a thriller, Steph returns to an author whose prose always moves us, and Molly devours a small town romance. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

Our annual tradition is back! Ahead of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, we're sharing our favorite books to gift. This year, we're strongly encouraging you to prioritize banned books to ensure some of the most important and powerful stories get into the hands of new readers. We have recommendations across literary fiction, memoir, romance, YA, graphic novels, children's books, cookbooks, and more. In our catch up, Kaitlin shares about a bread pudding that altered her brain chemistry, Steph and Molly recap their weekend in Wilmington, Vermont, and Molly admits to falling down a One Tree Hill rabbit hole after reading Bethany Joy Lenz's memoir. In what we're reading this week, Steph devours The Housemaid, Kaitlin debates whether she can finish Holly, and Molly picks up another food-centric love story. To follow along with all of our reads, including this year's holiday gift lists, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also reach out to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

Welcome to a tale of two covers. Two key holes, two maids, two murder mysteries. This week we're talking about The Maid by Nita Prose (and The Housemaid by Freida McFadden). We just finished Prose's story about a maid named Molly who works at a luxury hotel. We talk about narrators who are on the spectrum and how challenging it is to read about people being taken advantage of. In our catch up, Kaitlin updates us on her move prep, Molly shares about a delicious meal at a new restaurant, and Steph confesses that she's watching Maxton Hall... again. We have a lively discussion about all of the shows we've streamed lately and close by sharing what we're reading this week. Current book choices include a memoir about surviving a cult, an eccentric family drama, and an essay collection that almost landed on the DNF pile. To follow along with all of our recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

This is a very special week. We're celebrating 50 episodes - one year of Plans are Booked! We kick off by sharing all the details of our four days in the Big Apple, including crushing on Kit Connor in Romeo + Juliet on Broadway, channeling The Bear at Michelin star restaurant Eleven Madison Park, enjoying the finer things in Soho, falling in love with The Strand Bookstore, catching up with besties, and having an iconic celebrity sighting. Next, we reflect on our first year of podcasting together, covering our favorite reads, author interactions that delighted us, book events we adored, and things we've learned about the recording process. We close by sharing a very exciting giveaway. To enter, be sure to follow @plansarebooked on Instagram. To share feedback, ideas for upcoming episodes, or to order a Plans are Booked candle, you can write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com. 

This week we're talking about a second chance love story that surprised us. Rainbow Rowell has written two honest and vulnerable leads, Shiloh and Cary, who move through friendship, distance, and romance over two decades. We talk about the resonance of flawed characters, the levity delivered via a spunky little kid, and make comparisons to movies with similar vibes. In our catch up, Steph recaps her five days of dog sitting and gives us an update on house flipping. Kaitlin details her evening with author Jason Reynolds at the Brookline Booksmith and shares her excitement after making a visit to her new house. Molly tells the girls about her trip to Miami and the surprising things that came back in her suitcase. This episode we also share our listener picks for favorite books of 2024. If you'd like to see that list, give us a follow on Instagram, @plansarebooked. You can always write to us at plansarebooked@gmail.com.

This week we shine a light on an author we all adore, Casey McQuiston (they / them). Steph shares how she was first introduced to Casey's writing and how quickly all of us became super fans. Kaitlin and Molly recap seeing Casey in person with the Brookline Booksmith and how that deepened our fandom. We cover Casey's gift for writing banter-fueled love stories, vivid descriptions of food and travel, and LGBTQIA+ representation. We talk about our favorite moments from Red, White & Royal Blue, I Kissed Shara Wheeler and The Pairing, including reading passages that moved us and a great idea Kaitlin hatched for a YA prequel to Casey's latest story. In our catch up this week, Molly makes an instant BFF at the hair salon, Kaitlin celebrates a best friend's 40th, and Steph tells us about a new book she's working on. We close by reading a fun listener email and asking for your personal book recommendations. Please share your favorite reads of 2024 with us at plansarebooked@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram, @plansarebooked.