Fully Booked by Kirkus Reviews

Amy DuBois Barnett joins us to discuss If I Ruled the World (Flatiron Books, Jan. 27). “A young Black woman navigates the treacherous world of New York magazines in the 1990s,” Kirkus writes in an admiring review of Barnett’s fiction debut: “Style, love, and hip hop converge in this lively, likable novel.” Then our editors recommend their top picks in books for the week.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
Children of the Fullness by Cyd Ropp, illus. by Elfaza Studio
We Met at a Halloween Party by Marcus R. Ferrell
What We Hold No Longer by Aaron Gedaliah
The Beekeeper’s Question by Christina Baldwin
Unbuttoning by Ross Taosaka

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On our special Spring Preview episode, celebrating the most anticipated titles of 2026, New York Times bestselling writer and artist Chanel Miller joins us to discuss The Moon Without Stars (Philomel, Jan. 13). “After her zines launch her into the popular crowd, seventh grader Luna must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to stay there,” Kirkus writes in a starred review of Miller’s latest middle-grade novel. “Genuine and poignant; [The Moon Without Stars] has the makings of a modern classic.” Then our editors recommend some of 2026’s most anticipated titles.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
50 Secrets Nobody Tells You in Hollywood by Mike Kimmel
The Compass Room by Mark James
Twelve Purposeful Immersions by Jess Barcco
The Last Wizard by Alex Mizgailo
Ruled by Fate by Sam Withrow & Amelia Pinkis
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Culture journalist and critic Adam Morgan joins us to discuss A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls: Margaret C. Anderson, Book Bans, and the Fight to Modernize Literature (One Signal, Dec. 9, 2025), which Kirkus calls “a lively biography of a bold woman.” Then our editors recommend their top picks in books for the week.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
One Ordinary Man: A Novel Based on the True Story of Harry Hopkins by Steve Vesce
The Real Conversation Jesus Wants Us To Have by Regina V. Cates
Sammy Goes to the Doctor by Brittany Feria, illus. by Wandson Rocha
The Angry Skies by Blake Kerr
On Earth As It Is in Heaven by Joseph Hawke
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On our Best January Books episode, Kirkus’ editors share some of the month’s most highly anticipated titles. Then Alia Hanna Habib joins us to discuss Take It From Me: An Agent’s Guide to Building a Nonfiction Writing Career From Scratch (Pantheon, Jan. 20). Kirkus: “An invaluable resource for aspiring and professional writers alike.”

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
That Kind of Girl by Jacey Bici
Use Your Palabras, Jovita! by Keishia Lee Louis, illus. by Diego Alejandro Escobar Triana
Midnight at Sea by Hoyt Rogers with Artemisia Vento and Frank Báez
Bone of Contention by Jan S. Gephardt
Digital Odyssey by SE Quinn
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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, IV
Harlo by Brian Petersen
Bailing Out by Leonard Ruhl
The Nameless Dead by Leta Serafim
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