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On this episode of Complicated Conversations, we chat with Genevieve Wheeler about her debut novel ADELAIDE. Listen to our spoiler-free episode while you wait for your copy to arrive!!

On this episode of Complicated Conversations, we chat with Genevieve Wheeler about her debut novel ADELAIDE. Listen to our spoiler-free episode while you wait for your copy to arrive!!

In Pop Fiction Women we deep-dive into the complicated women of books, movies and TV shows, along with the women that bring them to life behind the scenes. Think Fleabag and Phoebe Waller Bridge, Normal People and Sally Rooney, and so much more.

In each episode you can expect us to:

* Break down the protagonist as we ask what makes her complicated?
* Identify the best scenes, which can mean sweetest, funniest, or most badass. Anything we love.
* Recount the cringiest scenes. The ones that make you squirm. Sometimes it’s self-sabotage, sometimes it’s growth, but it’s always part of the process of becoming our complicated selves.
* Play arm-chair therapist in What’s Your Damage, Heather? An homage to the iconic line in Winona Rider’s Heathers, we discuss how these characters got to be the way they are.
* “What She Said” - the segment where we scour every essay and interview with the women behind the scenes and share some of our favorite first person quotes. Real life is as interesting as fiction here.
* Look into our crystal ball and ponder where these characters are six months later and five years later. Typically, Kate gets very real and Carinn gets buck wild.
* Provide a takeaway, aka that part in the podcast where we try to sound deep. We leave you with some parting wisdom, challenge each other with thought-provoking questions inspired by the work, and urge you to “stay complicated.”

Pop Fiction Women

Genevieve Wheeler & 'Adelaide': Complicated Conversations Series

On today’s Complicated Conversation we chat with Katie Bishop about her debut novel, The Girls of Summer, which grapples with themes of power, sex, and consent, as it explores the complicated nature of memory and trauma––and what it takes to reframe, and reclaim, your own story. It’s a one that got away story with a #metoo twist.

We chat with Katie about structuring her novel between the past and present; the Greek island setting as a character; the effect of trauma on memory and the stories we tell ourselves to survive; idealizing young love and youth; why large age gaps are so interesting in relationships; her fortuitous path to publication; and the importance of giving voice to womens’ stories. 

The Girls Of Summer is out now. Buy it, read it, share it, and listen to our spoiler-free chat wherever you get your podcasts!

On today’s Complicated Conversation we chat with Katie Bishop about her debut novel, The Girls of Summer, which grapples with themes of power, sex, and consent, as it explores the complicated nature of memory and trauma––and what it takes to reframe, and reclaim, your own story. It’s a one that got away story with a #metoo twist.
We chat with Katie about structuring her novel between the past and present; the Greek island setting as a character; the effect of trauma on memory and the stories we tell ourselves to survive; idealizing young love and youth; why large age gaps are so interesting in relationships; her fortuitous path to publication; and the importance of giving voice to womens’ stories. 
The Girls Of Summer is out now. Buy it, read it, share it, and listen to our spoiler-free chat wherever you get your podcasts!

Katie Bishop & 'The Girls of Summer': Complicated Conversations Series

On this episode of Complicated Conversations we welcome Cecilia Rabess to discuss her stunning debut, Everything’s Fine, a story that asks big questions about America and what it means to live and love in polarized times. 

Cecilia shares the origin story of this novel and the creation of her protagonist, Jess, a young black recent college grad working as an analyst at Goldman Sachs; how she crafted the complicated, chemistry infused love story between Jess and Josh, her ideological antithesis; whether everything really is fine and the meta, layered meaning of the title; the strawberry on the “arresting” cover and the larger metaphor it represents throughout the book; whether or not people can really change; and a new take on astrology for us. 

This book explores so many questions — What does it mean to be a black woman struggling with internalized racism? What happens when one person says politics and the other says my humanity? It will make you think but also make you want to keep turning the pages at a relentless pace! 

Everything’s Fine is out now and it’s a must read. Buy it, read it, share it, and listen to our spoiler-free chat wherever you get your podcasts!

On this episode of Complicated Conversations we welcome Cecilia Rabess to discuss her stunning debut, Everything’s Fine, a story that asks big questions about America and what it means to live and love in polarized times. 
Cecilia shares the origin story of this novel and the creation of her protagonist, Jess, a young black recent college grad working as an analyst at Goldman Sachs; how she crafted the complicated, chemistry infused love story between Jess and Josh, her ideological antithesis; whether everything really is fine and the meta, layered meaning of the title; the strawberry on the “arresting” cover and the larger metaphor it represents throughout the book; whether or not people can really change; and a new take on astrology for us. 
This book explores so many questions — What does it mean to be a black woman struggling with internalized racism? What happens when one person says politics and the other says my humanity? It will make you think but also make you want to keep turning the pages at a relentless pace! 
Everything’s Fine is out now and it’s a must read. Buy it, read it, share it, and listen to our spoiler-free chat wherever you get your podcasts!

Cecilia Rabess & 'Everything's Fine': Complicated Conversations Series

On this episode of Complicated Conversations we welcome back Ashley Audrain. Her debut novel, The Push, was a New York Times, Sunday Times (London), and number-one international bestseller, and a Good Morning America Book Club pick. Her second novel, The Whispers, is out today and is a pageturner about four suburban families whose lives are changed when the unthinkable happens.

No one examines motherhood with the nuance and complexity of Ashley and we loved deep diving into the weighty questions of her novel with her: does being a mother require a “voluntary death” of your identity or can you fight it? Can you be a feminist and a mother? What lengths will a woman go to become a mother or to protect her child? We debate all of that with Ashely, as well as discussing midlife, female desire, infertility, and womens’ intuition (how to hear the “whispers” from within us). Finally, Ashley shares the way our episodes have inspired her exploration of astrology and Carinn tells us about how Ashley has been her literary fairy godmother. 

The Whispers is out now! Buy it, read it, share it, and listen to this very special spoiler-free chat wherever you get your podcasts.

On this episode of Complicated Conversations we welcome back Ashley Audrain. Her debut novel, The Push, was a New York Times, Sunday Times (London), and number-one international bestseller, and a Good Morning America Book Club pick. Her second novel, The Whispers, is out today and is a pageturner about four suburban families whose lives are changed when the unthinkable happens.
No one examines motherhood with the nuance and complexity of Ashley and we loved deep diving into the weighty questions of her novel with her: does being a mother require a “voluntary death” of your identity or can you fight it? Can you be a feminist and a mother? What lengths will a woman go to become a mother or to protect her child? We debate all of that with Ashely, as well as discussing midlife, female desire, infertility, and womens’ intuition (how to hear the “whispers” from within us). Finally, Ashley shares the way our episodes have inspired her exploration of astrology and Carinn tells us about how Ashley has been her literary fairy godmother. 
The Whispers is out now! Buy it, read it, share it, and listen to this very special spoiler-free chat wherever you get your podcasts.

Genevieve Wheeler & 'Adelaide': Complicated Conversations Series

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