Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes joins Zibby to discuss THE GRANDEST GAME, a brand new series in the lush, romantic, puzzle-filled world of THE INHERITANCE GAMES, where fan-favorite and new characters collide a year after we last saw them. Jennifer delves into the story, which revolves around Avery Grambs, a now 20-year-old billionaire heiress who designs a high-stakes game made to give someone a shot at fame and fortune. Jennifer also describes her writing process, including how her psychology and cognitive science background informs her storytelling and her love for crafting complex riddles.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3XaDVT5Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

New York Times bestselling author Kimberly McCreight returns to the podcast to discuss LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER, a breathless, shocking thriller about a daughter who returns to her childhood home in Brooklyn after months of not speaking to her mother… only to find an empty house in complete disarray, food burning on the stove, and a bloody shoe. The story unfolds through dual narratives as Cleo races to uncover her mother’s secret life. Kimberley reveals the book’s personal significance, drawing from her own experiences as a divorced mother, and then delves into the themes of midlife, parenting, public vs. private selves, and complex mother-daughter relationships. She also describes her organic writing process and hints at her upcoming book (it involves a hiking trip up Mount Kilimanjaro…). Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3SUidR4Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby speaks with debut novelist Sarai Johnson about GROWN WOMEN, a stunning, tender, elegant novel about how four generations of complex Black women attempt to heal old wounds and redefine happiness for themselves… as they raise a new generation together. Sarai shares how her own complicated relationship with her mother and a desire to depict Black motherhood with nuance and depth inspired this story. She also shares her writing process, literary models, and best advice for aspiring authors.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3WRELTHShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby chats with author Caro Carver about BAD TOURISTS, a propulsive and deliciously dark novel about three tight-knit friends who embark on an extravagant post-divorce trip to the Maldives… only to realize the resort of their dreams is harboring a killer. Caro describes her own trip to the Maldives, her use of a new pseudonym and genre (she uses CJ Cooke for her gothic thrillers!), and her love of writing stories that resonate with women. She also shares details of her difficult childhood in a violent household and the challenge of raising children while processing past trauma. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3YMupa0Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

British novelist Clare Pooley joins Zibby to discuss HOW TO AGE DISGRACEFULLY, an utterly hysterical, quirky, and reassuringly wise novel that centers around Lydia, a menopausal woman and empty-nester who is lonely and suspects her husband is having an affair… so she decides to help out at a senior citizen social club. She finds herself surrounded by very eclectic and mischievous seniors who, after an accident, must band together to save their community hall. Clare delves into her journey with sobriety and breast cancer and shares how an anonymous blog eventually led to a successful writing career. She also shares her perspectives on aging, highlighting the power of living every moment to the fullest, regardless of age. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3WNFMvJShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

New York Times bestselling author (and former flight attendant) TJ Newman returns to the podcast to discuss WORST CASE SCENARIO, a chilling, heart-stopping, unputdownable thriller about a commercial plane that crashes into a nuclear plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota. TJ reveals how her conversations with pilots about their deepest fears led to the book's terrifyingly plausible premise. The discussion delves into themes of personal sacrifice, ethical dilemmas, and the balance between duty and family. TJ also reflects on the pressure of writing after her previous successes and gives updates on the screen adaptations of her earlier books.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Arxd2pShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby chats with bestselling author Tom Seeman about ANIMALS I WANT TO SEE, a lyrical, tender, and insightful memoir about a boy who grew up in a family of fourteen in the projects of Toledo, Ohio, and journeyed from child janitor with big dreams to teenage petty criminal to student at Yale and Harvard. Tom describes his wonderful mother, whose resilience and kindness shaped his life and shielded him from his alcoholic father’s abuse. He also touches on his life-changing scholarship to a private high school and the small act of kindness that transformed his life. Finally, he reflects on the role of luck, nature vs. nurture, and the power of persistence and positive thinking. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3WKVk3CShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Zibby chats with award-winning author Sarah Manguso about LIARS, an eviscerating and unforgettable story of a marriage that burns to the ground and a woman who rises inexorably from its ashes. Sarah delves into her novel’s portrayal of a marriage that devolves into covert domestic abuse, exposing the often-overlooked dynamics of control and manipulation. She also reflects on her journey to becoming a writer and then describes a very tumultuous time in her life, which is when she wrote this powerful novel.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3WTJiGhShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Grief activist Lisa Keefauver joins Zibby to discuss GRIEF IS A SNEAKY BITCH, a warm, irreverent, and powerful guide for those navigating grief and those supporting the bereaved. Lisa shares the harrowing journey of losing her husband—a massive, undiagnosed tumor caused a scary shift in his behavior and culminated in a series of catastrophic strokes that took his life. Lisa delves into the complexities of grief, and then she and Zibby explore the importance of rituals, shared stories, and the need to normalize grief as part of the human experience. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3yyRSRnShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!