I was so excited to welcome Marisa Walz to Books Are Chic to celebrate her debut psychological thriller, Good Intentions. This fast-paced, page-turning novel centers on twin sisters—one whose life is cut tragically short, and the other who blurs the lines between obsession and justice. Walz pulls together all the best elements of a great thriller and delivers them at a perfectly calibrated pace. It’s hard to believe this is a debut.

Marisa and I also chatted about first-novel jitters, the road to publishing, our shared love of thrillers, and so much more. We raved about the book world and the incredible authors who showed up to support her with blurbs—it truly is an amazing community to be part of. Marisa Walz is absolutely one to watch.

YA royalty, Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, and New York Times bestselling author Emiko Jean joined me—and it was an absolute dream. Her latest YA romance, Love Me Tomorrow, delivers a little magic, a dash of mystery, and a whole lot of heart. Sold as a duology, this novel will leave you desperately wanting more.

Emiko was such a joy to chat with! We talked about what it’s like to be a Reese’s pick, the importance of YA, family ties, and—of course—BRAVO. And her Chic List answers? Completely nailed it. A+ across the board.

The ’90s. Hip-hop. Fashion. A fabulous, badass leading lady. A glossy magazine world. All the perfect ingredients for Amy DuBois Barnett’s stunning debut novel, If I Ruled the World.

I was beyond thrilled to welcome Amy to Books Are Chic—she truly is the epitome of chic. If you love any (or all) of those elements, consider this the ultimate literary cocktail to add to your 2026 reading list.

I could have talked with Amy for hours, diving into her inspiration, her influential years at so many iconic magazines, the music that shaped the ’90s, and everything in between. This book will make you think, dream bigger, and take action—no matter how big or small those dreams may be.

I said it at the beginning of the episode and I’ll say it again: If I Ruled the World is already topping my 2026 reads. I know I’ll be needing many more Amy books in my future—she is absolutely one to watch.