This episode we are talking about the novel, TIGER’S MOUTH written by Lucy Tan. This book is coming out on November 17, 2026, so this is an early preview. TIGER'S MOUTH is set in contemporary New York City. We meet three young adults, each with their own ambitions who become best friends one fateful summer that impacts their lives in different ways.
We first meet Jack Chen, son of a caterer, who bluffs his way into a prestigious internship at tech giant K.O. Systems. At K.O. Systems, his officemate is Jack Owens, son of the company’s billionaire founder, who would rather be dead than work for his father. Finally, there’s Jack Chen’s affluent girlfriend and budding opera singer, Caty Shangguan.
Nancy and Linny talk quite a bit about the characters, but the story also leads us to important questions, such as: what you lose when you deny your own past?
Nancy and Linny also discuss symbolism throughout the book: the author choosing to name the two characters “Jack;” the two tigers on the cover; and the move in the game GO, Tiger's Mouth, where a player basically surrounds and traps the other player.
Linny reports that of this year's books, TIGER'S MOUTH was the most of a page turner for her. She thinks it was the economic issues and the relationships. She said, “You don’t have to be tech savvy at all to enjoy this book!”
Grab your iced tea and settle in on the front porch with us as we delve into BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan, a tale that intertwines the lives of characters in a small Ohio town against the backdrop of post-World War II America. At its core, BUCKEYE explores the consequences of a brief affair between Cal and Margaret, and the impact not only their lives but also the next generation.
Throughout the conversation, the notion of secrets is central. Nancy reflects on why people keep secrets, suggesting that, “There are things that we want to hold to ourselves… that we just don't want to share with anyone else.” There are also secrets of shame. It's the secrets of shame that resonate deeply in the context of the characters' lives, as they navigate their desires while grappling with societal expectations.
Linda shares her admiration for the depth of character development in the book, noting how it presents the characters as children, showing their early signs of personality and trauma. The evolution of Felix's storyline, in particular, is highlighted as an exploration of identity and acceptance during a time when societal norms were vastly different. “What an interesting time in history. So much more challenging and difficult for a gay person to come out then compared to now,” Linda observes, emphasizing the nuanced portrayal of relationships.
The discussion also touches on the tragic aspects of Margaret's story, where her longing for intimacy is met with Felix's inability to reciprocate.
As we conclude our exploration of *Buckeye*, we invite you to reflect on the nature of secrets and the intricate web of relationships that define us. What do you think drives people to keep secrets? How do these secrets shape their lives and the lives of those around them?
If you haven't yet read BUCKEYE, we encourage you to pick up a copy and immerse yourself in this compelling narrative.
Today we interview Kayla Rae Whitaker about her new novel, RETURNS AND EXCHANGES. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have a family business, this book is for you! We learn about Kayla’s inspiration to write RETURNS AND EXCHANGES and get her perspective on the complex characters and interrelationships she builds around the rise and fall of Baker-Taylor discount stores.
Kayla Rae Whitaker is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and New York University. Her first novel, THE ANIMATORS, was named a best book of the year by Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Kirkus Reviews, and BookPage. She lives in Queens, New York.
We discuss Kayla's journey from English major to major author. She tells us just what she tells her students: if you want to see your name on the spine of a book, it's very possible.
Kayla tells us how homesickness and a trip to Sears gave her the shape of the story for RETURNS AND EXCHANGES.
Linny says she really liked the depth of each of the characters in RETURNS AND EXCHANGES. Kayla says she loves reading family epics, such as EAST OF EDEN. She wanted to write the kind of book she likes to read.
We loved talking about our many favorite characters and Kayla tells us the importance of writers loving all their characters: even Fred. Kayla likes to start with characters first and then find the stories around them.
We learn that Kayla loves to think about how birth order impacts her characters and we find out she is the youngest, just like Birdie, her easiest character to write!
After discussing the super fun time they spent together the week before, Linny and Nancy discuss RETURNS AND EXCHANGES by Kayla Rae Whitaker. This best-seller is the sweeping story of one Kentucky family’s tragicomic rise and fall throughout the 1980s. The plot revolves around parents Fred and Fran, they are the family behind the discount store chain, Baker-Taylor, that is expanding rapidly across the South and Midwest United States. The family values façade of the chain, and the family, starts to crack pretty early with an inter-company affair. Linny and Nancy relished the decade-long story of Fred and Fran’s four kids and their relationship with their parents, siblings, and the company. Both Linda and Nancy enjoyed the epilogue where several years have passed following the cataclysmic events of the story’s end.
We have a rollicking time with author Molly Fader. Her latest book, LADY X, became available on July 14. Molly is the author of four novels, including THE MCAVOY SISTERS BOOK OF SECRETS which is about two sisters from a small Pennsylvania hometown! Writing under the pseudonym, Molly O’Keefe, Molly Fader is the USA Today Bestselling author of over 50 contemporary romances. And Molly is a podcaster. Her podcast is called Day Drinking with Authors. She interviews authors, and others in the industry, about their recent releases, inspirations, and what’s happening next in publishing. And do it all while having a cocktail. Or three. She says!
We discuss how Molly's love of romance was borne from early tragedy. After a successful career as a romance writer, however, Molly decided she needed to write beyond that genre. It was a painful switch in agenting and publisher.
Molly tracing the inspiration for LADY X, including the incident in which she felt she poorly advised her teenaged daughter who was experiencing harassment.
Nancy reveals where she cried during the story and Linny and Nancy regale Molly with stories of their visits to 1970's New York on unchaperoned high school bus trips.
We talk about powerful men who abuse women and women who fight back. We also talk about how women sometimes enable the abuse of other women.
This is a gritty, realistic, clear-eyed look at female relationships from the 1970's to today. And, all three of us love ally Todd.
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