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In this episode, Lashawn shares her thoughts on recent bookish news, her current reading slump, and her love for romance tropes that she would never pursue in real life. Like never eva.

Books Mentioned in this Episode

Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse by Anne Carson

I’ll Believe in Anything: Jacob Tierney

Hollywood Ending by John Green

Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie

The wedding party Jasmine Guillory

The Fine Print by Lauren Asher

THe butcher and the blackbird by Brynne Weaver

King of Envy by anna Haung

The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth

Divergent Series

THe Last Testimony

the sweetest fiend by Raven kennedy

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J Maas

If you would like to support independent bookstores, you can find today’s books on Bookshop.org

Support the show

Purchasing at any of the links above supports this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Join the Pouring Over Books Bookclub. We are reading Toni Morrison in 2026.

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In this episode of Pouring Over Books, I'm talking about banned and challenged books, empathy, and why difficult stories matter.

We'll talk about books that deal with racism, sexual assault, abuse, identity, and other subjects that make people uncomfortable, along with 5 books by Black Women that have been banned or challenged and why we and our children need to read them.

Spoiler: Yes this episode is political because reading is political.

That is all.

Books Mentioned in this Episode

Sold, Patricia McCormick’s

Monday’s Not Coming – Tiffany D. Jackson

Homegoing – Yaa Gyasi

Clap When You Land – Elizabeth Acevedo

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros.

the disappears by marlon james

If you would like to support independent bookstores, you can find today’s books on Bookshop.org

Support the show

Purchasing at any of the links above supports this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Join the Pouring Over Books Bookclub. We are reading Toni Morrison in 2026.

Follow LaShawn on IG @lashawnwiltz and Threads @lashawnwiltz
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In this episode, LaShawn talks about the books she read ( and is still reading ) during September, initial thoughts on President Obama's Podcast, and books on her Never ending TBR for October.

President Barack Obama’s Podcast

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Books Talked About in This Episode

Love Hypothesis By Alli Hazelwood

Hate you to love you by Joshua Hortinela

Love Felt Like this by Juile Olivia

A Mercy By Toni Morrison

The Secret Dinner by Raphael Montes

The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gilling

The sixth faction by Veronica Roth

Friends and Family by Natalie Baszile

Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas

The Wallflower Series By Lisa KLeypas

Every story is a love story by mbolo Mbue

A Court of Splintered Harmony by sarah j maas

Disappears By Marlon James.

Grim Tidings by BK Borrison,

Catch her if she can b by tessa bailey

The Welcoming By Nora Roberts

The Perilous Fight By Colin Kaepernick

If you would like to support independent bookstores, you can find today’s books on Bookshop.org

Support the show

Purchasing at any of the links above supports this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Join the Pouring Over Books Bookclub. We are reading Toni Morrison in 2026.

Follow LaShawn on IG @lashawnwiltz and Threads @lashawnwiltz
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In this episode LaShawn talks about the latest book news including The National Book Awards Long List for Fiction, President Obama's guest list for his pod, How Singapour thinks its going to solve doomscrolling and upcoming book-to-screen adaptations.

The National Book Awards long list for fiction ​​ b

President Obama’s podcast lineup was released.

People.com article about The author of Educated's new book.

The Singapore government is paying people to read more

Books Discussed in this Episode

Song of Solomon By Toni Morrison

Educated by Tara Westfield

Book Adaptations:

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Verity By Colleen Hoover

Carrie by Stephen King

Sense and Sensibility By Jane Auten

Yaga by Kat Sandler

Current Reads

Love Felt Like this by Julie Olivia.

Fruit Fly by Josh Silver.

Dungeon Crawler Carl By Matt Dinniman

Disappearers By Marlon James

Tessa Bailey’s Catch me if you can.

If you would like to support independent bookstores, you can find today’s books on Bookshop.org

Support the show

Purchasing at any of the links above supports this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Join the Pouring Over Books Bookclub. We are reading Toni Morrison in 2026.

Follow LaShawn on IG @lashawnwiltz and Threads @lashawnwiltz
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On today's episode, LaShawn shares practical tips on how to read more and scroll less, including having a book always ready, swapping bedtime doom scrolling for reading, and using apps to block social media. She also reviews her recent reads ( a fabulous controversial read that not everyone will like) and current TBR including finally getting to one of this year's most popular books.

Brick Device

The Downtime App

The Margins App Apple Android

Books Mentioned in this Episode

The Secret Dinner By Raphael Montes

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

Fruit Fly by Josh Silver.

Love Felt Like this by Julia Olivia

If it Makes you Happy by Julia Olivia

The Never Harbor Series by Julia Olivia ( Kindle Unlimited)

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinnamon

If you would like to support independent bookstores, you can find today’s books on Bookshop.org

Purchasing at any of the links above supports this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Support the show

Purchasing at any of the links above supports this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Join the Pouring Over Books Bookclub. We are reading Toni Morrison in 2026.

Follow LaShawn on IG @lashawnwiltz and Threads @lashawnwiltz
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On today's episode, LaShawn is talking about the new debate about POV in books and why people say they won't read 1st person POV, 7 books that are coming out between now and November that she is adding to her TBR, and a few niche Honorable Mentions that are specific to her tastes. Maybe after you hear about them they will be for you too....

Books Mentioned in this Episode

Take My Word For it By Lavar Burton

American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee

The Sweetest Fiend By Raven Kennedy

Gloria Steinem An Unexpected Life By Gloria Steinem

The Disappearers By Marlon James

Friends and Family Natalie Brazille

The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman

Honorable mentions for my own personal TBR

The Sixth Faction by Veronica Roth

Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo

I’ll believe in anything by Jacob Tierney

A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J Maas.

Forget Me not By Karissa Kinwood

The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig

I am not Sidney Poitier by Percival Everett.

Into the Blue By Emma Brode

Love Felt Like This By Julie Olivia

If you would like to support independent bookstores, you can find today’s books on Bookshop.org

Purchasing at any of the links above support this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Support the show

Purchasing at any of the links above supports this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Join the Pouring Over Books Bookclub. We are reading Toni Morrison in 2026.

Follow LaShawn on IG @lashawnwiltz and Threads @lashawnwiltz
Substack: Letters From LaShawn

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In this episode, LaShawn discusses the books she read in August, a review of her latest read and what books she is looking forward to in September

Books Mentioned in this Episode

Paradise by Toni Morrison

Love by Toni Morrison

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Honey by Imani Thompson

Luster by Raven Lelani

The Knave the the Moon by Rachel Gillig

The Disappears by Marlon James

Mazywood by Tannareve Due

The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw

Threshing Day By Rebecca Yarros

Hollywood ending By John Green

The Poison Daughter By Sheila Masterson

A Mercy by Toni Morrison.

If you would like to support independent bookstores, you can find today’s books on Bookshop.org

Purchasing at any of the links above support this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Support the show

Purchasing at any of the links above supports this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Join the Pouring Over Books Bookclub. We are reading Toni Morrison in 2026.

Follow LaShawn on IG @lashawnwiltz and Threads @lashawnwiltz
Substack: Letters From LaShawn

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In this episode, LaShawn talks about the recent price increase of Amazon Kindle devices, end of summer reading season with book recommendations, and what she is currently reading and a review on her latest audiobook.

Books Mentioned in this Episode.

The Calamity Club by Katherine Stockett

All Systems Red by Martha Wells.

London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe

The Missed Connection by Tia Williams

Helpless By Jessica Knoll

Heir of Prophecy by Analeigh Sbrana

Grim Tidings By B.K Borrison

Fourth Wing By Rebecca Yarros

Summer Girlfriend by Kristinia Forrest

If you would like to support independent bookstores, you can find today’s books on Bookshop.org

Purchasing at any of the links above support this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Support the show

Purchasing at any of the links above supports this podcast at no additional cost to you.

Join the Pouring Over Books Bookclub. We are reading Toni Morrison in 2026.

Follow LaShawn on IG @lashawnwiltz and Threads @lashawnwiltz
Substack: Letters From LaShawn