2026 Moms, Dads, and Grads Recommendation Show, Part 2
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In this vibrant, deeply personal episode of Book Riot's 'Moms, Dads, and Grads Recommendation Show,' hosts Jeff and Rebecca dive into a rich tapestry of reader requests, blending literary insight with heartfelt advice. From a 12-year-old’s fantasy-loving twin niece to a new dad craving gritty Westerns, the episode unfolds like a literary treasure hunt. One standout moment is their passionate defense of *The Nickel Boys* by Colson Whitehead—not just as a novel, but as a necessary, harrowing reckoning with America’s past. They also champion *Go Gentle* by Maria Simple as the ultimate antidote to winter gloom, calling it a 'hot pink' novel that’s both smart and joyfully absurd. The episode culminates in a moving exchange about family traditions, where a listener’s 'reading bingo' card becomes a symbol of connection across distance. With humor, empathy, and a sharp eye for under-the-radar gems, Jeff and Rebecca prove that books aren’t just stories—they’re lifelines, rituals, and shared languages for navigating life’s big moments.
Give *The Nickel Boys* by Colson Whitehead as a gift to confront uncomfortable truths about American history and justice.
Use *Go Gentle* by Maria Simple to combat winter blues—its smart, witty voice is a joyful, high-energy read.
Create a family reading bingo card to build connection and spark meaningful conversations across generations.
For a 12-year-old fantasy fan, recommend *The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street* for its warm, diverse family dynamics and community activism.
Pair *The Sparrow* by Mary Doreen Russell with *Station Eleven* for a literary sci-fi experience that explores faith, loss, and humanity.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Sponsor: Merit Beauty – Minimalist Skincare
Jeff introduces Merit Beauty, a clean, vegan, cruelty-free brand offering a minimalist makeup routine with three core products: a dual-purpose foundation/concealer stick, a flush balm for a natural glow, and a signature lip blush. Listeners get a free signature makeup bag with their first order at MeritBeauty.com.
Sponsor: 11 Reader – Affordable Audiobooks & Text-to-Speech
Rebecca promotes 11 Reader, an award-winning audiobook app with over 100,000 premium titles and the ability to convert any text—ebooks, PDFs, articles—into natural-sounding audio. It offers 20 hours of premium audiobooks for $8.25/month with no credits and full flexibility.
Sponsor: Zando Penguin Audio – Audiobook Excerpt from *Game On*
The hosts tease an audiobook excerpt from *Game On*, the third book in Nevesa Allen’s *Into Darkness* series, a dark, morally gray romantic thriller. The excerpt features a tattoo artist reflecting on her life, security, and inner monologue in a gothic, maximalist shop.
Weird Little Book Club: High-Concept Fiction for Melanie
“It's ones all the way down. It's infinite monkeys typing ones on Shakespeare typewriters. That's how that goes, right?”
Character-Driven Fiction for Hallie: Deep Dives into Inner Lives
For readers seeking emotional depth over plot, the hosts recommend *Pachinko* by Min Jin Lee, *Mrs. Dalloway* by Virginia Woolf, *The Wilderness* by Angela Flournoy, and *Fates and Furies* by Lauren Groff—novels where relationships and internal lives are the true story.
“It's a party. I think that we can agree for 2026 so far, this is our most generally recommendable book.”
“I don't know, evil at worst. And I think this is like, this is what we're, if those on the left are afraid of something, this is the Satan's butthole of what we're afraid of.”
“It's ones all the way down. It's infinite monkeys typing ones on Shakespeare typewriters. That's how that goes, right?”
Hosts
Rebecca
person
Jeff
person
Colson Whitehead
person
George Saunders
person
Merit Beauty
brand
Cormac McCarthy
person
Tim Robbins
person
Rainer Maria Rilke
person
Maria Simple
person
11 Reader
brand
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