Fully Booked by Kirkus Reviews

Happy New Year, listeners! It’s the Fully Booked Year in Review, featuring editor-in-chief Tom Beer and Kirkus contributing writer Michael Schaub. On this jolly special episode, we take a deep dive into the weird book news of 2025 and reveal the year’s most popular episode.THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:Fighting Bullies by William T. Reid, IVHarlo by Brian PetersenBailing Out by Leonard RuhlThe Nameless Dead by Leta Serafim See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this special holiday episode, Megan presents her favorite nonfiction interviews of 2025, featuring Edmund White (The Loves of My Life) and Caro De Robertis (So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color).THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:The Zygan Emprise by Y.S. PascalCourse Over Ground by Bill C. WilsonBetween Wounded and Well by Debra PalmerProphets of War by Jack BrownSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this special holiday episode, Megan presents her favorite fiction interviews of 2025, featuring National Book Award winner Rabih Alameddine (The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)) and National Book Award finalist Karen Russell (The Antidote).THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:French Lessons by Roberta SamuelsForgiven by Bruce J. BergerFrancisco De Saavedra's American Revolutionary War by James GieslerMaya Blue by Brenda CoffeeFlight of the Chicxulub by Christopher FlakusSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We conclude our Best Books of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to young adult. First, Libba Bray joins us to discuss Under the Same Stars (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Feb. 4). Then young readers’ editor Laura Simeon highlights some more of the year’s best YA.Thanks to our sponsors:The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. RetivoffA Widow’s Fire by Diane Pike HeilerFuture-Focused Wealth by Melissa CoxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re continuing our Best Books of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to middle grade. First, Adam Gidwitz joins us to discuss Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II (Dutton, February 25). Then young readers’ editors Laura Simeon and Mahnaz Dar discuss more of the year’s best books.Thanks to our sponsors: The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. RetivoffPassages by P.K. EdgewaterEco Reign by L. GaluppoRom-Com for Dummies by Tom DiggsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re continuing our Best Books of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to picture books. First, Patricia Morris Buckley joins us to discuss To Walk the Sky: How Iroquois Steelworkers Helped Build Towering Cities, illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Heartdrum, Jan. 28). Then young readers’ editor Mahnaz Dar dishes on more of the year’s best books.Thanks to our sponsors:The History of Lightning by Anthony Dwanye WebbInto the Gray Scale by Oge MobuogwuMaybe I’m Not God by Stefania Gander, trans. by Chiara GastaldiThe Judgy Bunny by Gramma Sir See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re continuing our Best Books of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to nonfiction. First, Jen Hatmaker joins us to discuss Awake: A Memoir (Avid Reader Press, Sept. 23), one of Kirkus’ Best Nonfiction Books of the year. Then nonfiction editor John McMurtrie dishes on more of the year’s best books.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re kicking off our Best Books of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to fiction. First, Lily King joins us to discuss Heart the Lover (Grove, September 30), one of Kirkus’ Best Fiction Books of the year. Then fiction editor Laurie Muchnick dishes on the year’s best novels and story collections. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this special episode, we present the 8th annual Fully Booked Holiday Gift Guide. Guest cohost Tom Beer joins host Megan Labrise in welcoming authors Ben Schott (Schott’s Significa; Workman) and Michael W. Twitty (Recipes From the American South; Phaidon). And Kirkus’ editors present their top holiday gift book picks.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New York Times bestselling author Catherine Newman joins us to discuss Wreck (Harper/HarperCollins, October 28), the follow-up to 2024’s Sandwich. Kirkus calls the new novel, “A heartbreaking, laugh-provoking, and absolutely Ephron-esque look at the beauty and fragility of everyday life” (starred review). Then our editors recommend their top picks in books for the week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.