Totally Booked with Zibby

Fran Hauser joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new book Twenty Minutes is the New Hour, a guide to help women embrace the twenty-minute mindset, reclaim their time, and take small steps towards better productivity. 

Fran talks about the techniques she used to launch her bookstore Bedford Books in just eight weeks, how time becomes the enemy of the good, and adding more kairos over chronos in women's lives. 

She also dives deeper into setting boundaries around notifications, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, the fear connected to procrastination, email management, and what she feels guilty about. 

Learn more about Fran here https://www.franhauser.com/about and follow her on Instagram @fran_hauser.

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Allison Sweet Grant joins Zibby Owens to talk about her new poetic memoir Lump, an unconventional, moving collection of essays and verse about her experience with breast cancer. 

Allisondiscusses how the book started out as a journal to process the difficult moments of her cancer journey, being diagnosed at the beginning of Covid at forty years old, what kept her from going to the doctor right away, and the psychological weight of this horrible disease. 

She also shares her initial attraction to poetry in elementary school, how intimidating it is to publish a book while married to a bestselling author, the barometer cancer becomes for daily life challenges, and sharing the book with her daughters.

Follow Allison on Instagram @allisonsweetgrant. 

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Isabel Allende joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new memoir Story Telling, a heartfelt love letter to life and writing that recounts the past forty-five years of her career, the philosophy and emotion behind craft, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. 

Inspired by the masterclass she did with the BBC, Isabel writes about the quiet happiness of aging, how the inner critic never goes away, the loss of her daughter, and the bad aspects of life that make great literature. 

She also shares the challenges of irony and humor in translation, her soul’s need to write, her belief that her stories exist in another dimension, how to overcome feeling stuck while writing, and the benefits of writing a bad novel. 

Learn more about Isabel here https://isabelallende.com/en/home.

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Bestselling author Renée Rosen interviews Zibby Owens about her new book Between Chapters,a heartfelt and candid collection of essays centered around her decade of extreme change and where it all led. 

Zibby discusses overcoming intense social anxiety as a young girl, the impact of her first published piece in Seventeen Magazine after her parent’s divorce, her editing process, and launching a Between Chapters essay platform on Substack featuring stories from her community. 

She also talks about the overwhelming aspects of motherhood, the rocky journey with weight loss and food noise that ended with Mounjaro, the pain and devastation of the Palisades wildfires, the start of her podcast, and navigating the online hate after speaking about October 7th. 

Order Between Chapters here https://zibbymedia.com/products/between-chapters or follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens.

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Laura Moriarty sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel and August 2026 Read With Jenna Pick Sunlight Finds You, a deeply felt love story set in 1949 that ends in heartbreak and shame, and changes the course of seventeen-year-old Nora’s life forever. 

Laura talks about the book’s look into dealing with uncertainty, her extensive research into the time period, and the conversations with her mother that shed light on both the joys and challenges of being a woman during that time. 

She also shares the hardship of being diagnosed with oral cancer while writing this book, letting go of writing expectations to free the story, and her gratitude for the perspective into life that reading gives us. 

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Harlan Coben sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss his new book Plot Twist, a memoir that blends personal narrative and writing advice, acknowledging that both are inevitably connected.

Harlan talks about the importance of critical thinking in fiction, incremental ambition, accepting adaptations as a different perspective, and how insecurity makes good writers. 

He also shares personal experiences, from loving and losing his parents, his time at Amherst College, navigating the blurry line between memoir and fiction, and the magic behind creating from a blank page.

Learn more about Harlan here https://www.harlancoben.com and follow Harlan on Instagram @harlancoben

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Instant New York Times bestseller!

Dara Horn joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new book The Final Solution to the Jewish Question, an exploration into the lies of antisemitism throughout history and her vision for the future.  

Dara discusses how Holocaust education fails to do its job, her surprise at finding so much more ignorance than malice, how the hate movement has taken over AI, and the big lie of antisemitism. 

She also shares her own personal experiences, from serving on Harvard’s Antisemitism Advisory Group to wrestling with how to help herself, and the struggles her son has already faced. But Dara also leaves us with an important, hopeful reminder: “the opposite of hate isn’t love, it’s curiosity”.

Learn more about Dara at https://www.darahorn.com.

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USA Todaybestseller Sona Movsesian sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new book The World’s Worst Mom, a funny and relatable look into motherhood.

Sona discusses her experience with IVF and the conversations that it demands, her obsession with mortality after having kids, the trauma of losing her home in the 2025 Southern California wildfires, and betraying her preconceptions about motherhood. 

She also shares the need for laughter, her experience working with Conan O’Brien for over seventeen years, and how she hopes her sons will see her in twenty years. 

Follow Sona on Instagram @sonamov. 

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Elizabeth Castellano joins Zibby Owensto talk about her new novel Proof of Progress, the humorous story of B-list actress and comedian Maria Astorini whose second book is thirty-seven years overdue. 

Elizabeth shares how this book was inspired by her own difficulties while writing her second novel under contract, the impact of pressure on her writing, and the pieces of real life that made it into the story. She also discusses unconventional friendship, debunking the myth that book deals are impossible, and imparting little truths through humor. 

Learn more about Elizabeth here https://www.elizabethcastellano.com.

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Live from the Children’s Museum of the East End, Amy Chozick sits down with Zibby Owens to talk about her new psychological thriller With Friends Like You. In the novel Emily, a struggling new mom in Manhattan, embarks on the search for her long-lost friend Daisy who disappeared years ago after becoming a stripper. But when Emily finally finds her, the question becomes: Is Daisy saving her life or destroying everything?

Amy discusses how her own experiences have influenced her characters, the resentment in postpartum that has nowhere to go, female friendship, and the unique challenges of raising kids in New York City. 

She also recounts her career as a journalist, the piece she wrote on Stormy Daniels three weeks postpartum, the fascinating collision of new motherhood and sex work, and her current work as a TV writer. 

Follow Amy on Instagram @amychozick. 

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Lea Vale joins Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel Blue Sky Black, the second-chance romance told across two timelines that she wrote as a love letter to the friend she lost on 9/11.

Lea shares her own experience in New York City that day 25 years ago, the trauma of having to cope with a loved one simply disappearing, and the importance of talking about tragedy. She also recounts how the romance genre finally allowed her to write this story, infusing hope and light into such a difficult subject. 

Learn more about Lea Vale at https://leavale.com and follow her on Instagram @leavaleauthor

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Zibby was one of the countless people who lost a loved one on 9/11. Stacey Sanders, Zibby’s college roommate, worked in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. To process the loss, Zibby wrote an essay for her business school newspaper, The Harbus, two weeks after it happened. She reads it here to pay tribute to the 25th anniversary of the attacks. 

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Kara Kavensky sits down with Zibby Owens to talk about her memoir Tell Me About Joy, inspired by WWII veteran Bob who shared with her his greatest regret: “I missed out on marrying the love of my life. Her name is Joy.”

Interwoven with her own personal story, Kara writes about her journey to find Bob’s long-lost love and how it changed her life. She touches on her own healing after being married to a narcissist, the human face of war, sharing stories of resilience, the heaviness of losing a child, and ultimately, finding joy again.  

Learn more about Kara here https://www.karakavensky.com/home and follow her on Instagram @karakavensky

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Jonathan Santlofer joins Zibby Owens for a deep dive into his new novel Ten Perfect Guests, an immersive, fun, “whodunit” thriller following the aftermath of a beloved art figure’s death and the people summoned to a remote island under threat of losing their inheritance. 

Jonathan discusses the challenges of juggling ten different points of views, the joy of playing with familiar tropes like greed, lust, and betrayal, and the beauty of finding empathy for his most villainous characters. 

He also recounts the discovery of his mild dyslexia in art school, how losing ten years of his artwork to a building fire eventually led him to writing, and the grief of unexpectedly losing his wife. 

Learn more about Jonathan at https://jonathansantlofer.com and follow him on Instagram at @jonathansantlofer

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Eriq La Salle joins Zibby Owens to discuss his new thriller Laws of Solomon, the fourth book in his Martyr Makerseries, which takes a previous side character who was inspired by The Godfather’sLuca Brasi and lifts him up to the lead. 

Eriq discusses the ever-present question of ‘can our most villainous, vile characters find redemption?’, the journey of a character’s soul, how his favorite films have inspired his work, and the coming of age story of a man. 

He also touches on his transition from actor to author, the duality of his thrillers, and the blessings that come from failure. 

Learn more about Eriq here https://www.iameriqlasalle.com and follow him on Instagram @eriqlasalle 

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Amanda Peters sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new novel (and Zibby’s November Book Club pick!) The Birthing Tree,the story of a young girl growing up in a family with secrets, her withdrawal from the grandmother who raised her among the generational traditions of Mi’kmaq women, and what eventually draws her back home as an adult. 

Rooted in community and feeling, The Birthing Treeweaves together the chase for identity, connection to home, repairing wounds from the past, and revering not only nature and the land, but the extraordinary feats of the human body. 

Amanda touches on how she drew inspiration for this book from a conversation with her own Nan, the importance of tradition within an always advancing modern world, and the terror of writing another book after a bestselling debut. 

Join Zibby and Amanda at Zibby’s Book Club on November 11 at 7pm for a virtual Q&A as they dive deeper into The Birthing Tree. Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zibbys-book-club-amanda-peters-tickets-1994014022619 

Learn more about Amanda at https://amandapetersauthor.com and follow her @amandapetersauthor

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Sarah Addison Allen’s bookPaper Ghosts was, quite fittingly, haunting. We discussed grief, loss, fiction, writing, and more. I left feeling like I had a new friend. 

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Jonah Platt and I both have TV shows on the JBS network which is how we connected for this episode. I’d been dying to interview Jonah about his Jewish advocacy and what he’d learned from interviewing so many leaders in the field. What he answered surprised me. I also learned about how he’s raising his children and more. 

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Beth Ricanati, MD, and I made challah together in my kitchen in L.A. eight years ago — and filmed it. Since then, our lives continue to intersect from the podcast to the bookstore to her being part of the On Being Jewish Now anthology. In this conversation recorded at Zibby’s Bookshop, we covered health benefits to baking, her suggestions as a physician for how to live more healthfully, and the windy path to her second book. (If you want to watchour original film, click here!) 

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Laurie Notaro makes me laugh. A bestselling humorist, Laurie writes about whatever life stage she’s in with wit and bluntness. We talked about her hilarious parents and how her dad often says he’s glad Laurie didn’t have a twin, how we regress as soon as we go “home,” the indignities of aging, and the free cosmetic procedure she tried and had her skin burned off. 

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Today’s episode features female founders of two communities: Jennifer Shoop, Magpie, and Aly Wente and Niki Wente, The Wine Sisters Book Club. Both groups have prioritized books — in addition to birds, wine, and more interests and avenues. Jennifer Shoop’s book, Small Wonders: A Field Guide to Life’s Quiet Joys,was absolutely beautiful. 

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Pain psychologist Dr. Rachel Zoffness sits down with Zibby Owens to discuss her new book, Tell Me Where It Hurts: The New Science of Pain and How to Heal. Prompted by one parent’s powerful question and the transformative experience of working with teenagers, Rachel reflects on her personal and professional experiences with pain and her goal of sharing the true science with the world. 

They dive deep into overcoming imposter syndrome, how to identify the ingredients of a bad pain day, the genetics of highly sensitive people, and Rachel’s own struggles with chronic pain. 

Learn more about Dr. Rachel Zoffness here: https://www.zoffness.com/ or follow her on Instagram @therealdoczoff. 

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Sara Goodman Confino’s high school journalism teacher was the first person who told her “you can do better than this.” And she did. 

Sara joins Zibby Owens for an intimate talk about her new novel Off The Record,a fun, thrilling, and mysterious romantic comedy set in 1962 about 22-year-old Judy Greenberg looking to be the next big reporter as a young Jewish woman in a male-dominated field. 

Sara opens up about the challenges she faced as a female teacher with male administrators, the long road from writing to becoming a published author, and how a single mentor can change the trajectory of a life. 

Visit Sara’s website here: https://saraconfino.com/ or follow her on Instagram @saraconfino. 

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Midlife desperately needs a rebrand. Dr. Margie Lachman is doing just that with her research at the Lifespan Lab at Brandeis University where she teaches psychology. She has pioneered the lifespan psychology approach to midlife. We talked about the joys midlife can bring and why her academic approach is so essential. 

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Tokyo-born Lisa Katayama took her parenting techniques with her to Northern California and found that what Japanese culture had to offer was quite useful when it came to raising kids. We discussed the pain points of parenting, how she puts her ideas into practice, and how she pulled off writing a book in the midst of all of it. 

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Ann Tashi Slater and I spoke about life, meaning, the role of literature, travel, family, and more, inspired by her book Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World. (Special thanks to past podcast guest Lauren Grodstein for the introduction!)

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Jackie Friedland, a contributor to my anthology On Being Jewish Now and past podcast guest, returns with her latest novel, Breathing Under Water! A poignant story about life around the pool, an unfair accusation, an autistic main character, and a community shaken, this book will make you think and feel. Jackie and I discussed parenting, coaching, writing, and more. 

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Eva Zu Beck seems like an unlikely solo pioneer in the wilds of Pakistan, but her fearlessness has taken her around the world with just a van, a dog, and a camera. What does it take to live like that? To call off an engagement and a way of life and, instead, bring millions of others on international adventures with her? She shares her self-destructive behaviors, her doubts, and her inner monologue as she becomes a global adventurer.  

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I’m insanely impressed by Stephanie Wittels Wachs, not just because she’s the co-founder and CEO of Lemonada Media, an award-winning podcast network with a mission to "make life suck less,” but because of her ability to use humor and wit to get through loss. She lost her brother, writer-producer-comedian Harris Wittels, to the opioid crisis and has now written multiple books on the topic. This raw exploration of grief is also a manual for anyone else struggling with how to help an addicted loved one. Our conversation ranged from entrepreneurship and what it takes to start something new to her profound struggles in the aftermath of sibling loss. 

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I first met Alyssa Rosenheck at a coffee shop in Nashville, TN, with my husband, Kyle. She was a notable architectural photographer whose book was being sold at the Draper James boutique, which I’d just visited, and she offered to show us the town. I didn’t know then that she was also Jewish, which, in the pre-October 7th days, wasn’t necessarily something that would come up in conversation. And yet, after October 7th, Alyssa became a vocal proponent of the Jewish people, leading political and societal change efforts in her community. She contributed to my anthology On Being Jewish Now. Her next book, White. Blonde. Jew.,is coming out and has been met with controversy in her community; her launch event was canceled. I’ll be hosting Alyssa at Totally Booked: Live in New York on Sunday, October 25th. Listen to our candid conversation (recorded before the cancellation). 

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Anyone else a bit obsessed with the royal family? (I have a girl crush on Princess Catherine.) Caroline Hallemann, digital director of Town & Countrymagazine, delves deep into the overlapping histories of the British Royal Family and our own U.S. royals: the Kennedys. We discussed fandom, coincidence, leadership, and more. 

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Ashley Kahn was sitting on a terrace in Italy as we talked about his love letter to Paul Simon and the album Graceland, Days of Miracle and Wonder. I couldn’t help getting distracted by the fabulous view (an inner sigh as I sat inside at my desk on a beautiful day) but then I realized that his view — his perspective — was something I could internalize and share. Ashley’s deep dive into the history of the hit album Graceland — one of my favorites! — made me rethink music history. Our talk was as interesting to me as the beats of the songs and lingered long after the mic turned off, just like Paul Simon’s music. 

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Cinelle Barnes was nervous. This was her first interview about her book after her brain injury which, having read the book, I completely understood. Cinelle shared openly about what her life has been like in the before and after, the accommodations she needs to function at 100%, her new lease on life, and how she pivoted an existing book project (this!) into what became a powerful, memorable story of overcoming and persevering. 

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Chris Young was beyond impressive! I loved talking to him about his experience in prison, how he turned to books and philosophy, his views on overcoming obstacles, resilience, and fate, and how he sees the world. Chris is incredibly inspiring. Prediction: he’ll hold office later in life. Just saying. Listen to us discuss his powerful story and how it can inspire everyone to lead more authentic, meaningful lives.

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I feel like Dr. Lucy McBride and I could’ve grown up as friends. She’s so relatable despite her brilliance that taking her advice feels like a no-brainer. Hear from her as she shares the medical “stuff” you need to know and feel inspired to get the care you need. Lucy will be part of Totally Booked: Live on October 25th. Get your tickets now!

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Dara Levan is a contributor to my anthology On Being Jewish Now: Reflections from Authors and Advocates, who is the first person to show up for friends and colleagues alike. In her latest novel Shaken to the Core, she portrays a loss in vivid detail, family dynamics, loss, and more. 

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David K. Israel, one of the contributors to my anthology On Being Jewish Now: Reflections from Authors and Advocates, has a quirky, dry sense of humor that permeates his latest release, The Lost Mozart. A composer, David shared fun details about his entry into the world of symphonies and sounds, how it felt to lose his home in the Palisades where we were neighbors, and the creativity involved in music versus writing.

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I loved this book! Couldn’t put it down. Join me in September (9/15 at 7 pm ET) to discuss When Lemons Give You Life by Australian author Anna Johnston, whose prior novel, The Secret Life of Frederick Fife, is being adapted by Netflix. It’s about a retired Michelin-star chef who ends up at a nursing home, wondering if life is still worth living, who finds a new sense of purpose and connection through cooking again. It sounds depressing, but it isn’t. It’s light and entertaining but has heart and soul, plus many twists and turns. I won’t give anything away. It will make you look at life differently. Isn’t that part of why we read?

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I don’t know what Jaclyn Moriarty’s parents did so right to raise a slew of brilliant women writers, but Jaclyn has a few ideas. Hear from her about the games her family played including sister Liane Moriarty, Big Little Lies, how she got the idea for the book on a bus ride, the lives not lived, and fate itself. The book is so fun; Jaclyn’s prose is so witty I continually chuckled as I read it. Her observational prowess knows no bounds.

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Bestselling author Chris Bohjalian has written 26 books, including mega-bestsellers Oprah’s Book Club pick Midwives and The Flight Attendant, adapted into an Emmy-winning TV series — and yet he still worries that his next book won’t be any good. Isn’t it funny that even the greats of the field still worry?! But not to fear: Chris is no amateur and his latest book is thought-provoking, different, gripping, and memorable. When a bright young woman, about to head to Yale, swings a golf club at the range of her club, her life changes in an instant. The ball blasts through a hole in the netting and instantly kills a caddy, a classmate of hers. What follows is an examination of a neighborhood percolating with infidelity, blame, and gossip, a look at how easy it is to end up with the wrong people, and an attempt to right a life thrown off track. 

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I reread (and listened to) one of my favorite books, When Breath Becomes Air, before speaking to late author Dr. Paul Kalanithi’s widow, Lucy. The book was as moving, thought-provoking, and immersive now as it was when I first inhaled it. It’s no surprise that the book spent 68 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction list and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Dr. Paul Kalinithi was obsessed with life and death, philosophy, literature, and science, delving deep into the why of it all, before falling terminally ill with cancer himself, dying at age 37. He left his book, for which Lucy wrote the epilogue and Abraham Verghese wrote the foreword, but he also left his family. I spoke to Lucy about life after Paul, how she toured on his behalf, her relationships and career post-loss, and her daughter. The world lost such a brilliant, special soul. This book is a must-read.

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The newly minted New York Times bestseller The Renoir Girls by Brit Catherine Ostler tells a hidden story of what really happened to the young girls in Renoir’s famous portraits. As it turns out, they were victims of the Holocaust. How could these high-society children have ended up suffering, one even at Auschwitz? The story digs into government, politics, hatred, antisemitism, art, family, wealth, and class. I adored speaking to Catherine, one of the brightest people I’ve interviewed, and had the pleasure of meeting her in person afterward on the day her book hit “the list.” Huge thanks to Plum Sykes for the introduction. 

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We can’t all completely start our lives over again. But Cece Downing, down on her luck, tries to do just that. An intriguing neighbor catches her attention. Antics ensue. Soon Wiley captures the interior life of a woman’s mind with brilliance (how does he do it?!) and depicts a turning point with literary prowess. We spoke about his upcoming move, his stage of life, the inspiration for the book, and more. 

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I spoke to Sarah Vaughan about her riveting new novel, Based on a True Story (think: cliffside manor, a matriarch at her 70th birthday party, a secret, a threat). Her prior novel Anatomy of a Scandal was made into a Netflix show in 2022. But Sarah opened up about far more than the book. For the real true story, listen in. 

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Dr. Elisa Port, chief of breast surgery at Mount Sinai and one of the nation's leading breast cancer specialists, joins Zibby to discuss her compassionate new guide, The Breast Advice. Drawing on decades of clinical experience and the stories of real patients, Dr. Port shares the latest advances in breast cancer screening and treatment, dispels common myths, offers practical advice for reducing risk, and explains how friends and loved ones can provide meaningful support. Tune in!

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Kate Doerge is a FORCE. When her daughter Penny passed away, Kate channeled her overwhelming grief into community building, giving back, and even her much-needed workouts. She opened up her home, even when Penny was dying, for all her teenage friends and family friends, to be a part of it. And that's when they saw the angel light in the driveway. Written in collaboration with past podcast guest Sara Bliss, Reimagining Griefis the guide book, clarion call, and bible to living with pain and forging ahead. Kate founded Penny's Flight in honor of Penny to help others. We were honored to host Kate at Zibby's Bookshop in conversation with Jennifer Levi, who launched the Live Like Braun Foundation, in honor of her late son, just before the book hit the USA Today bestseller list. You can watch that conversation on our Substack here.

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Elizabeth Jannuzzi and I spoke about her journey from being a high-functioning alcoholic who managed to hide her addiction from her family to a "sober mom." Liz shares her most shameful moments, the affair that almost blew up her marriage, and how she turned her life around.

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I’ve been a fan of Justin Halpern’s for years and have read all his hilarious, heartbreaking, original stories. His debut novel Get Lost is a new take on some themes he’s been writing about all along. And it’s funny! We talked about his screenwriting and how an encounter with Quinta Brunson on a studio lot changed everything. You can also watch his hilarious event at Zibby's Bookshop here!!

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Well, he said it. Prize-winning author Michael Cunningham opens up about his formative relationships as he teaches the reader what great writing looks like. I read his unforgettable novel The Hours for a now-defunct book club years ago. I couldn’t wait to discuss! A professor, Michael shares in the book and on the podcast, what his secrets are. By including sample paragraphs throughout, we pick up his vast knowledge. He then intersperses his own story including a chapter that . . . you never would have guessed. Loved this conversation! 

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August Book Club Pick!! You might know bestselling author Matthew Quick from his blockbuster hit Silver Linings Playbook, which became an Academy Award-winning film. Now we not only get a behind-the-scenes look at his personal life, but also his professional struggles, something most accomplished authors don’t open up about.

Matthew shares what happened after Hollywood lost interest and how he dealt with it. He faced many demons in his attempts to cope with his difficult childhood, particularly his volatile relationship with his father, from alcohol to excessive exercise. The writing is exceptional. The honesty? Next level. It's midlife reinvention at its finest.

Join us for a virtual Q&A book club on August 13th at 7:00 pm. Registerhere!

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Obsessed. Super obsessed. Can’t stop talking about this book and recommending it. I have to admit, my mother is the one who finally got me to read it. Apparently, Oprah selecting it last year paled in comparison to my mom! Culpability raises all sorts of questions about ethics, secrets, AI, family loyalties, success, and love. Bruce Holsinger and I discussed all of it, including how he completely rewrote this novel based on one car ride. 

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I can’t stop thinking about my interview with #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva. Not only did we discuss the themes in his latest book Ransom (and his wife!), but we covered how he feels about the fact that men aren’t reading anymore. He discusses how women are all over the bestseller list right now and his concern going forward. Curious what you all think! 

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Jean Kwok ventured into writing fantasy after her own divorce, which we discuss, in addition to how she grew up working in sweatshops in Chinatown and ended up at Harvard. Jean, a Read with Jenna pick, is one of the most effusive, lovely authors who is constantly lifting others up. 

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You know who was probably excited when masked robbers invaded the Louvre? Just kidding. But Jo Piazza’s novel The Parisian Heist couldn’t be more timely! Hear from mega-bestselling author and host of Under the Influence Jo Piazza as we discuss the other Jo—Jo van Gogh, art, her own love of art history, forgotten women, and twisty reads. 

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This is the third book I’ve interviewed Rachel Beanland about; I just love her writing. Did you know she won the National Jewish Book Award for debut fiction for Florence Adler Swims Forever? In The Half Life,she takes us to Sardinia into the military world where one young woman finds her way. We spoke about Rachel’s late father, her own experience growing up on military bases, how to really figure out who you are, and more. Rachel will be at our Naples Book Lovers Retreat January 22-24, 2027. Learn more about thathere.

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Emily Giffin is a legend in women’s fiction (and we discussed whether we like calling it women’s fiction).Love You More is yet another fabulous read. Emily and I went deep and spoke about her own divorce, the lifestage she’s in now that her kids are all off to college, and how essential a role writing plays in her life. 

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John Searles was an editor at Cosmopolitan back in the Helen Gurley Brown days. That’s why he’s the perfect person to have written Single Girls, this juicy, page-turning read. John and I spoke about his own personal history of loss and how it related to Helen’s past, the evolution of magazines, why he was in the mood to deviate from his typical darker fiction, and how important coworkers really are. Plus, of course, Helen Gurley Brown! After our interview, I was invited to a very swanky launch party at Love Shack Fancy. They even gave me a dress which made me the coolest mom to my daughters who are rarely impressed these days! So an extra special thank you to John! 

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Zibby chats with Ben Reeves about EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT, an imaginative and deeply moving novel about finding beauty in the brevity of life, as narrated by the one who knows it best: Death. Zibby and Ben explore how a story about mortality ultimately becomes a celebration of life, love, family, and the fleeting moments that make our time meaningful. Ben shares the inspiration behind his unforgettable protagonist, reflects on how parenthood transformed his perspective on time and loss, and explains why thinking about death can help us live more fully.

New York Times bestselling author Ariel Sullivan returns to the podcast to discuss BENEATH, a gripping dystopian novel that explores grief, survival, rage, and the resilience of the human spirit. She opens up about how her own journey through postpartum depression and therapy shaped the novel's emotional core, why she wanted to write an unapologetically angry female protagonist, and the healing power of confronting shame rather than running from it.

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Zibby welcomes back Robinne Lee to discuss CRASH INTO ME, a stunning, emotionally layered novel about identity, desire, beauty, race, and motherhood. Robinne shares how she moved beyond the success of THE IDEA OF YOU to write a fearlessly intimate story inspired by her own experiences living in Los Angeles and Paris, reflecting on beauty standards, interracial marriage, aging, privilege, and the power of embracing every facet of womanhood.

Bestselling author Beatriz Williams returns to discuss WHEN YOU LOVED ME, a sweeping novel that intertwines a colonial-era pirate mystery, a second-chance love story, and the high-stakes world of professional football. She and Zibby talk about the real-life inspiration behind the novel's unforgettable opening, Beatriz's unexpected path from Stanford football manager to bestselling novelist, and the novel’s themes of family, violence, resilience, and redemption.

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Zibby welcomes New York Times bestselling author Amanda Eyre Ward back on the podcast to discuss ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES, a transporting novel that reunites readers with the beloved family from THE JETSETTERS. Amanda shares the real-life inspiration behind the story—from interviewing romance scammers and drawing on her own experiences being scammed to writing about complicated family dynamics, mental illness, addiction, sibling relationships, and travel.

Zibby also sits down with debut novelist and screenwriter Laura Lekkos to discuss ALL THE LITTLE WAYS, a heartfelt novel about two expectant mothers whose unlikely friendship is tested by a shocking twist. Laura reflects on the inspiration she found in motherhood, mommy groups, and female friendship, shares her journey from screenwriting to fiction, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at adapting bestselling books for film while balancing a busy career and family life.

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Kalina Silverman, founder of the global Big Talk movement, joins Zibby to discuss her inspiring new book, BIG TALK: How to Skip the Small Talk, Make Meaningful Connections, and Enrich Your Life. She shares how her own loneliness sparked a decade-long mission to help people forge deeper connections through meaningful conversations and offers practical tips for becoming more approachable, asking better questions, and building community in an increasingly disconnected world.

Zibby also chats with Lu Chekowsky about her whip-smart, deeply personal, and wildly entertaining memoir, DON'T BUY WHAT I'M SELLING: On Breaking Up with Advertising and Finally Learning to Love My Whole Fat Self. Lu reflects on a career at the highest levels of the advertising industry, the burnout that nearly cost her her life, and the complicated relationship between media, body image, grief, and self-worth. Together, they explore the power of using your own voice, redefining success, and finding healing by finally listening to your body.

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Zibby chats with Sabrina Rudin, founder of Spring Café and author of HEALTHY WITH A SIDE OF HAPPY, about her lifelong dream of writing a book, how a vegetarian restaurant idea that "would never work in Aspen" became a thriving brand, and why she believes food has the power to completely transform how we feel. Sabrina shares the philosophy her mother instilled in her — that food is medicine — and how it drove her to open Spring Café, build an engaged online community, and eventually write the cookbook she always knew she had in her. 

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Photographer Marnie Salsky joins Zibby to discuss A Peoplehood,Amiut Yehudit, her visually stunning exploration of contemporary Jewish identity. Drawing on over a decade of documentary work in Toronto's Jewish community, Marnie shares how archival images, candid interviews, and present-day photography come together to examine belonging, cultural trauma, and the rising tide of antisemitism.

Zibby also sits down with three prominent American rabbis — Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, Rabbi Yoshi Zweibach, and Rabbi Josh Franklin — for a wide-ranging conversation about Jewish identity, books, and what it means to be Jewish today. Together, they explore the unexpected resurgence of Jewish engagement following October 7th, the challenge of rising antisemitism, and what the Jewish community is ultimately fighting for. 

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Zibby chats with Eliza Reid about her unexpected journey from Canadian farm girl to First Lady of Iceland. Eliza shares how her history-professor husband was persuaded by strangers to run for president, and how she navigated eight years in an unofficial role with no rulebook, four young kids, and a determination not to lose herself in the process.

SPECIAL OFFER: Eliza co-founded the acclaimed Iceland Writers' Retreat. As a special offer for Totally Booked listeners, you can save 40,000 ISK (about $320 USD) off the retreat, taking place April 14–18, 2027, by registering at this link: https://hosted-checkout.straumur.is/paymentLink/uxumoc098m7aokw2clwq. For more information, visit www.icelandwritersretreat.com or reach out to general manager Sue Erbeck at sue@icelandwritersretreat.com.

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Dr. Lucy Hone joins Zibby to discuss HOW WILL I EVER GET THROUGH THIS?, her compassionate guide to navigating grief and hardship. Drawing from her research in resilience psychology and her own experience of profound loss, Dr. Lucy shares evidence-based tools for coping with trauma, rebuilding identity, finding hope, and fostering post-traumatic growth. Together, she and Zibby explore resilience, fear, healing, and the universal question at the heart of every difficult season: How do we move forward when life changes forever?

Then, Zibby chats with Oona Metz about UNHITCHED: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women. Drawing on 30 years as a therapist and 15 years leading divorce support groups, Oona shares practical advice for navigating the emotional upheaval of divorce, managing guilt, supporting children through family transitions, and finding community during difficult times. Together, she and Zibby explore the evolving journey of divorce, the rise of “gray divorce,” and how women can emerge from the experience stronger, more empowered, and hopeful about the future.

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Zibby interviews fertility specialist Dr. Jaime Knopman and co-author Rebecca Raphael about their book, OWN YOUR FERTILITY. They discuss the realities of modern family planning, the rise in infertility, egg freezing, fertility preservation, and the importance of educating women earlier about their reproductive health. Drawing from both medical expertise and personal experience, Jaime and Rebecca share practical advice and empowering information to help women make informed decisions about their futures.

Zibby also interviews Lindsay Bartels about IMOGEN IN WAITING: A Memoir of Modern Reproduction, a powerful and deeply personal exploration of genetic inheritance, fertility, and reproductive choice. Lindsay shares her experience navigating breast cancer, carrying the BRCA1 mutation, IVF, and the difficult ethical questions surrounding embryo testing. Together, they discuss motherhood, resilience, medical advances, and the complex decisions that arise when science offers unprecedented control over the future.

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Douglas Brunt returns to Totally Booked to discuss THE LOST EMPIRE OF EMANUEL NOBEL, the fascinating true story of the Nobel family’s rise in imperial Russia, their pivotal role in the global oil industry, and the revolutionary forces that reshaped the twentieth century. From the origins of the Nobel Prize to the rise of Stalin and the fall of the Romanovs, Brunt shares how he uncovered this forgotten family saga—and why its lessons about power, energy, and history still resonate today.

Bestselling author Ben Mezrich discusses CHECKMATE, his gripping deep dive into the biggest cheating scandal in chess history. From a shocking showdown between world champion Magnus Carlsen and controversial young challenger Hans Niemann to questions about AI, truth, and the future of competition, Mezrich unpacks the real-life drama behind a story that reads like a thriller. He also shares his unique approach to turning headline-making nonfiction into blockbuster books and films.

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Loop in your teens! Get some life advice from Meredith Walker who founded Smart Girls with Amy Poehler in Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice and then laugh along with Adam Mansbach whose unorthodox parenting “advice” has gotten me through a lot. Now he’s back with Go the F*** to College.

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NYT bestselling author Judy Batalion shares a compelling pre-WWII story of a family in a changing city, in The Last Woman of Warsaw. (The more things change…)

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This double episode tackles love in all its forms with Katherine Center’s The Shippers and Lila Raicek’s The Plunge. Hear from NYT bestselling author Katherine Center about her writing process and why she likes to give away the (happy) ending from the start. Cry with playwright Lila Raicek as she shares the friend she lost and the dark times that inspired her debut novel.

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Your story makes a difference. How did you get through that last painful chapter? Why are you loving your current chapter? Which chapter are you leaving and which are you entering? Karson Brown shares her story of going from full-time motherhood to depression to writing and now publishing her first memoir, 48 Days to Barbadosin "The Chapter I Never Saw Coming." Now you can share yours. Click here to be inspired, connect, commiserate, laugh, feel, and think.All stories welcome.

Inspired byBetween Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot (9/22/26) by Zibby Owens.

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Loved Selfish! Co-founder of Faherty, Kerry Docherty, was a college athlete and superstar with a natural healer’s energy before helping her husband and his twin brother launch the clothing company. In the midst of start-up life, Kerry started losing herself and became entangled in an emotional affair with a famous musician. Her story explores what it means for a woman to put her needs first and how business and family mix.

Arkansas-based humorist Jess H. Gutierrez turns on the funny in her second collection of essays, Adulting for Amateurs. If you’ve ever made a mix tape, this book is for you. Nothing is off the table from her dog-sitting gone wrong to being married to a woman firefighter. I laughed out loud many times.

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Caitlin Shetterly wrote about a mom with breast cancer in The Gulf of Lions, a follow-up to Pete and Alice in Maine. Then, in a strange plot twist, she got breast cancer herself. It’s hard to believe Caitlin’s diagnosis came after the fact because the emotions are so visceral and descriptive in the story. It’s like it had already happened. The plot centers on a mom taking her two teen/tween daughters to France for the summer after her husband cheated on her — and the unexpected twists and turns of the trip. Themes include family, secrets, trust, lust, and the joy of travel.

Lauren and I spoke about her novel, Very Slowly All at Once, about a couple who starts getting mysterious checks in the mail. The husband is an out-of-work professor who finds out something odd when visiting his mother in her post-stroke home. The wife is desperate to find excitement. What happens next? Read and find out.

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Yes, this is about a group of moms and daughters, a story told in many alternating viewpoints during a fun getaway in Europe and beyond. But at its core, it’s about the ripple effects of an accident: misunderstandings, long-held resentments, and the impact of the unexpected on even the closest friends and loved ones. James and Sue Patterson spoke to me about their collaborations and more. Can you guess who James Patterson is writing a book with next?! Listen and find out. Clue: his last name rhymes with feast.

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I loved hosting my annual Summer Reading Listcelebration in New York! I invite all authors on my list (see here) to meet each other, share about their books, and connect. Hereare the photos so you can feel like you're in the room where it happened! Where else can you get 30 authors in one room pitching books to each other? Enjoy. And share my list!

By the way, if you're someone (like me) who enjoys recommending books and sharing links to all types of products, you should join ShopMy as a creator! Use my referral code to get started and see proof that your recommendations matter. Click here! #shopmycreator

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In this double episode of the podcast, Zibby talks with bestselling author and productivity expert Amy Landino about building intentional mornings, managing energy instead of time, and creating habits that support the life you want. Then, Bruce Feiler joins the show to discuss his new book A Time to Gather, sharing why rituals and community are essential to human connection, healing, and belonging in an increasingly isolated world.

By the way, if you're someone (like me) who enjoys recommending books and sharing links to all types of products, you should join ShopMy as a creator! Use my referral code to get started and see proof that your recommendations matter. Click here! #shopmycreator

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Double episode from interviews recorded live at The Whitby Hotel!

Bestselling author Camille Pagán joins Zibby to discuss her moving new novel, Dog Person,a witty story narrated by an aging rescue dog determined to help his grieving owner find love again, inspired by Camille Pagán’s own experience with loss, grief, and the extraordinary emotional intelligence of her beloved dog. Camille opens up about the personal tragedy that shaped the book, the research behind how dogs perceive human emotions, and the healing power of writing through grief. She and Zibby also dive into publishing culture, pseudonyms, romance novels, difficult characters, and the vulnerability of being a writer. Plus, Camille shares the surprising story of how she became a “dog person” herself — thanks to one unforgettable rescue dog.

Novelist Kerry Clare discusses her witty and deeply thoughtful new novel, Definitely Thriving. Inspired in part by the work of Barbara Pym, the novel follows Clemence, a woman rebuilding her life after blowing up her marriage and deciding — finally! — to prioritize her own desires over everyone else’s expectations. Kerry and Zibby talk about writing funny, complicated women, the joy of eccentric side characters, and the role bookstores, friendships, and neighborhoods play in shaping identity and community. They also dive into the pressures women face around “having it all,” the idea of thriving versus optimizing, and why following your appetite — emotional, creative, intellectual — can be its own act of rebellion.

By the way, if you're someone (like me) who enjoys recommending books and sharing links to all types of products, you should join ShopMy as a creator! Use my referral code to get started and see proof that your recommendations matter. Click here! #shopmycreator

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Zibby’s Book Club Pick! I ugly-cried on the plane reading Sarah Damoff’s THE BURNING SIDE. It was like listening to a symphony — beautiful throughout but with piercing violin moments that made me clutch my chest. I love these characters so much. The writing is pure, not overdone or self-important, but elegant and poignant. Multiple perspectives. Emotions. Love. Loss. Home. Family. Memory. Time. Motherhood. All of it. One of my all-time favorites. Sobbed. In the best way. Thank you, Sarah Damoff. THE BURNING SIDE is just perfection. I feel more connected to all of humanity after connecting so deeply to this family — and feel honored to have spent time with these fictional souls.

Join my book club Q&A with Sarah on June 9th at 7 pm EThere.

By the way, if you're someone (like me) who enjoys recommending books and sharing links to all types of products, you should join ShopMy as a creator! Use my referral code to get started and see proof that your recommendations matter. Click here! #shopmycreator

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Emma Brodie’s Into the Blue: A Reese’s Book Club Pick!

Emma Brodie said she cried every day writing this book which became a Reese’s Book Club pick. (Maybe that’s the secret?!) We connected at Totally Booked: Live about the film/TV world, young love, the what ifs of life, the process of writing, and more!

NBC’s Morgan Radford, Now Then

NBC News Daily co-anchor Morgan Radford is one of the most articulate guests I’ve had on my show with that type of infectious energy and soulful spirit that draws people to her. We discussed her fabulous debut novel about family, relationships, Cuba, and Harvard, at Totally Booked: Live. She’s so impressive!

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Rosie Walsh, The One Day You Were My Husband

Loss, love, expectations and mystery abound in Rosie Walsh’s latest novel about a woman whose husband vanishes on their wedding night. We spoke about how past traumas inform narratives, the importance of a good first chapter, and more! 

Aging Reversal?! Kelly Yang on The Take (and Front Desk!!)

My son and I read Front Desk together two summers ago. When I found out blockbuster author Kelly Yang had written a novel for adults, I couldn’t wait to read it! It’s an immersive story about aging, ambition, loyalty, family, and friendship with a unique angle: what if there was a way to reverse aging but in so doing, you sped up someone else’s?! Hear how Kelly ended up graduating college at an absurdly young age, her own family’s origin story, and why writing matters.

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I’m obsessed with this novel. Perhaps because I also wrote a book called Forty Love but even though my agent sent it out as the start of the pandemic, it didn’t sell. Which is probably for the best. Jane Costello’s novel is so much better! It’s smart, funny, inspiring, a bit steamy at parts, and page-turning. It centers around a 40-something British woman, a widow, whose only child has just “flown the nest.” She decides to join the local tennis league, where she promptly runs into an old flame. The book is about what happens to her, yes, but it’s really a battle cry on behalf of women, moms in particular, which gives us permission to find joy, find love, and find ourselves again. We also published it!

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Donna Hay is the ubiquitous cookbook author and lifestyle brand. Her latest cookbook, Sunshine, Lemons, and Sea Salt, will join the others on my shelf. Hear from Donna in Australia as she discusses her home, her approach to life, her family, and more. Don’t miss her new Disney+ show Coastal Celebrations.

Adeena Sussman moved to Israel with her husband (hear how they met) and fell in love with the cuisine. Learn about her latest book which just hit the NYT bestseller list, Zariz, and how even you can cook with less than 10 ingredients. Plus we discuss what it’s like to be a Jewish author now. 

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Dr. Deepika Chopra teaches us the difference between optimism and positivity, shares her own child’s medical struggles and how she gets through, discusses pregnancy issues, and helps us find the strength we need. If you’ve ever asked, “Why is this happening to us,” then listen in. Dr. Chopra’s book, The Power of Real Optimism, is incredibly helpful. 

Journalist Stacey Lindsay tackles what it’s like being in our forties (I only have a few months left - gah!) by asking many women, “How are you feeling about this age?” She parses through expectations versus reality, thoughts on aging and beauty, and shares her own feelings about her family and how that shaped her own experience in Being 40: The Decade of Letting Go — and Embracing Who We Are.

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Kristy Woodson Harvey spotlights NICU nurses, sports coaches, and a small town in her annual summer novel, this time Summer State of Mind. If you’ve ever wondered “how something like this could happen in a town like theirs,” Kristy will pull back the curtain. But don’t worry: as Kristy says, “There are some secrets that come to light through the course of (the book), but you know, it's me, and I love a happy ending.” Hear how Kristy learned everything she needed to on the tennis court, how decisions aren’t black and white, and how this book stretched her talent. 

Mikki Brammer’s novel Good Joy, Bad Joy is this month’s Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick — and it’s clear why. By delving into the lives of two elderly women, Joy and Hazel— who truly don’t see themselves that way — Mikki paints a delicate portrait of female friendship, the secrets we keep, and how we cope when a loved one falls ill. Plus it’s a little devious. The real question, according to Mikki? “What is a life well lived and have I lived it fully?” Dive in.

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Pam Sherman took her superpower of inspiring others in acting, speaking, and work to write a helpful handbook to put your best foot forward. As Pam says, "You want to be who you are, wherever you are, in order to ignite your audience.” As a board member of Jewish Women International, Pam supports women, inspires leadership and shows what it takes. 

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What if your grandmother got pregnant? That’s the premise behind Laurie Frankel’s witty, escapist narrative about an older woman who takes up with her retirement community next-door neighbor and unexpectedly gets more than she bargained for — much to the dismay of her adult children. We spoke about her complete rewrite of the book ("I do not believe a single sentence remains . . . I opened a new document and wrote it completely from scratch . . .”), aging, family, life, and more. As Laurie says, "You don’t have to give up at a certain age.”

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I remember reading The Help in 2009 when it came out and absolutely loving it! Back then I was a stay-at-home mom of twins under age two. To think that by the time they graduated high school I’d be interviewing the author is insane; I wouldn’t have believed it. The Calamity Club is set in Mississippi in 1933 and spins an immersive tale about strong women who have to get through the Great Depression. It’s about a wealthy family’s fall from grace, a child’s never-ending resilience, loss, betrayal, family, hard work, and, ultimately, love. Kathryn and I spoke about it all including her own daughter’s influence on the characters. At the end of our interview, she said, "You are probably the best reader I've ever talked to.” Wow! 

Key quotes:

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Dr. Tara Narula gives us a specific recipe in The Healing Power of Resilience: A New Prescription for Health and Well-Being, while editor Jenny Bartoy collects stories of others, like her, who have cut off contact with toxic people, sometimes even parents, in No Contact: Writing on Estrangement. Taken together, these two conversations arm us with the tools to get through challenges that might just be out of our control. How we respond to them isn’t.

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Jessica George takes on female friendship in her sophomore novel Love by the Book, which follows her hit Maame, which we also talked about on the podcast, as does Geneen Roth in her latest book Love, Finally: Untangling the Knot Between Mothers, Daughters, and Food. One woman made a huge difference in Geneen’s healing. (This book is for anyone who has ever been on a diet.)

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Marisa Renee Lee shares her battle with long Covid on top of her other excruciating losses in Waiting for Dawn: Living with Uncertainty. We spoke at Totally Booked: Live at the Whitby Hotel, where she delighted the crowd with her big laughs, delightful personality, and optimism in the face of devastating circumstances.

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I had the immense honor of interviewing Rachel Goldberg-Polin about her book When We See You Again.Rachel, USA Today's Woman of the Year and one of the TIME 100, is the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin who was kidnapped on October 7th and later executed by Hamas. Her book is raw, beautiful, and important. A meditation on grief, love, and how to get through. Please listen. We spoke in front of 1,200 people thanks to the generosity of UJA-NYC.

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Yes, Sally Hepworth and I spoke about her new novel, Mad Mabel, which features an older, quirky protagonist whose neighbor dies in the opening, and the young friend who comes along. But we also spoke about Sally’s recent divorce and how she has been getting through that. Sally is such a good storyteller that anything out of her mouth is captivating. No wonder her latest book is a Book of the Month Club pick.

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I’ve been a fan of actress and bestselling author Annabelle Gurwitch since I first read You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up.I’ve interviewed her on my podcast about her last book You’re Leaving When? and then got lucky enough to publish her new book, The End of My Life is Killing Me through Zibby Publishing — which has now been on the USA Today bestseller list for two weeks! You might have seen Annabelle lately because she has been all over the media with shout-outs from and interviews with Bill Maher, Drew Barrymore, Terry Gross at NPR, and Jenna Fischer. The book is hilarious and heartbreaking, fast-paced, thought-provoking, and a must-read. Hear from Annabelle and me at Totally Booked: Live in New York. 

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Hear from two amazing women authors who have survived loss and learned to live with it by finding humor in the darkest times. Screenwriter Angela Nissel writes about the loss of her mother — who had been caught up in a deceptive relationship — in Good Grief, Pass the Bread, Mom is Dead. Content creator Leslie Harter-Berg shares how she survived the sudden loss of her 30-year-old husband while on vacation post-Disneyland with their family and small children in You’re So Strong. The two of them are funny, sensitive souls who should really be friends. Taken together, these two conversations highlight how writing is healing, how humor is necessary, and how we can get through the hardest things life throws our way. 

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Actress Gina Gershon takes us through the unexpected, entertaining steps to becoming a star and the attitude it takes to do so in her memoir Alphapussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs.

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I touched base with Little Free Library CEO Daniel Gumnit about how to promote literacy, why stories are best when shared, and exactly how to bring a Little Free Library to your “neck of the woods.” Learn more here.

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Bestselling memoirist Wade Rouse shares about his first novel, That’s What Friends Are For, inspired by “The Golden Girls.” In crafting humorous story lines about four gay friends in later life, Wade explores complex issues ranging from prejudice and discrimination to loyalty and love. We spoke about the book live at Zibby’s Bookshop.

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