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Send us Fan Mail  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 Substack: Letters From LaShawn

Send us Fan Mail 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  Get Audible Membership  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  It's Only Dancing by by Jasmine GuilloryA 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 Substack: Letters From LaShawn

Send us Fan Mail 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 Substack: Letters From LaShawn

Send us Fan Mail 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 Substack: Letters From LaShawn

Send us Fan Mail 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

Send us Fan Mail 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

Send us Fan Mail 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

Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode, LaShawn is talking about President Obama's New Podcast, her thoughts on it being on Audible, and the long awaited release of the titles of ACOTAR 6 and 7. Which leads to a discussion on alternatives to ACOTAR that might be a bit more ...diverse. She also talks about books she read last week and what's on her TBR for this week. Books and Things Mentioned in today's episode President Obama’s Podcast news Dungeon Crawler Carl By Matt Dinniman  The Legendborne series by Tracey Deonn.  The Poet Empress by Shen Tau Our Vicious Oaths By NE Devenport Vicious Bonds by Shanora Williams trilogy House of Devil series Kayla Edwards series  Immortal dark by Tigest Girma  War of lost hearts series Clarissa Broadbent.  Wolf king by Lauren Palphreyman THe Everlasting by Alex Harrow The Knight and the moth by rachel gilling Paradise by Toni Morrison All systems red by Martha Wells.  the summer girlfriend by kristina forest  Heir of prophecy by analeigh Sbrina  A Court of Splintered Harmony A Court of FOrgotten Melody 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

Send us Fan Mail So...what exactly counts as smut? On today's episode of Pouring Over Books, LaShawn is breaking down her five levels of spice, from closed door romance to books where sex is the main event. Because not every romance with a sex scene is smut. So where's the line? Books Mentioned in this Episode  The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez The Bodyguard: A Novel By Katherine Center  Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adam Book Lovers by Emily Henry The Hating Game by Sally Thorne Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros By Nora Roberts Northern LightsThe Witness Vision in WhiteA Court of Mist and Fury by Sara J Maas Before I Let Go by Kennedy ryan Score By Kennedy Ryan Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid A Court of Silver Flames By Sara J Maas   Gild by Raven Kennedy ( the plated prisoner series) Enigma by CM Barnes Kiss of the Basilisk by Lindsey Straub Lights out by Navessa Allen  The Poet Empress by Shen Tao Good Parts by Evann Normandin The Lion and the Deathless Dark by Clarissa Broadbent 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

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Season 4! In this first episode back, Lashawn discusses the impact of AI on the book industry, especially on Black authors, shares her summer reading list, and reviews recent books she loved.   Books Mentioned in this Episode Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral and A Memoir of Phillis Wheatley, a Native African and a Slave by Phyllis Wheatley Dolly All the Time by Annabelle Monnagan Rites of the Stirling by Devny Perry The Revelation of Dionne Daphne by Mara Brock Akil I Will  Find You by Harlen Cobrin Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie  Current Read : If Not For My Baby By kate Golden  The Atlantic Article The Guardian Article HM Wolfe and her Publishers Response Horror Novel Shy Girl Cancelled over Suspected AI Use  Bookclub Pick: Love By Toni Morrison  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

Send us Fan Mail In today's Episode, LaShawn talks about what she PLANS on reading this summer including 10 books on her personal summer TBR. The quesiton as always is will she stick to the plan? Programming notes and summer plans also discussed.  Books Mentioned in this Episode Unbound by Peyton Corrine  https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9781668219423 The Odyssey By Homer https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780393356250 Huntsman Naima Simone https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9781250352941 The Art of Loving You by Natasha Bishop  https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9781638932741 Just for the Cameras Meghan Quinn  https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9781464246944 Dominion Jean kwok https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9798217044368 The One day you were my husband by Rosie Walsh https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9798217060450 The Burning Side Sarah Damoff https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9781668085011 Games a love story By Anna Maria Volkova  https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780063437722 Seek the traitors son by Veronica Roth https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9781250347909 Jazz by Toni Morrison  https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9781400076215 King of Gluttony by Anna Huang  https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9781728289779 The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston  https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780593952757 Tropesick by Lauren Okie https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780063479616 Summer Reading Guide https://lashawnwiltz.substack.com/p/the-2026-official-summer-reading LaShawn's Youtube Channel 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

Send us Fan Mail On today's Episode, LaShawn talks about her favorite books of 2026 SO FAR, what she read while she was down with a sickness for 7 days and what's on her TBR for this week.  Books Mentioned in this Episode  Tender is the Flesh Agustina Bazterrica https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9781982150921 DireBound by Sable Sorrensen https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780316601382 You and Me Tal Bauer  https://go.shopmy.us/p-64995093 Half His Age Jennette Mccurdy  https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780593723739 Daggermouth by HM Wolfe https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9798347122363 Kin by Tayari Jones https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780525659181 Judge Stone  by James Patterson Viola Davis  https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780316579834 The night we met  By Abby Jimenez https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9781538780794 Fury bound By Sable Sorrenson https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780316610940  Broken Dove By Dani Francis https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780593875490 The open Era by edward schimit. https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780593956779 into the blue by emma brodie.https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9798217093700 Topesick by Lauren Okie.  https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9780063479616 Rafe by Rebekkah Weatherspoon  https://bookshop.org/a/106568/9781724106506 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

Send us Fan Mail On today's Episode, LaShawn talks about the Books she read in May,( including some long awaited reviewsO  what's books are on her radar for June( spoiler, romance and literary fiction ) and and what her personal TBR looks like. Yes, LaShawn is sticking to a TBR for the month. Find out how it worked for her last month and what's on this month's list.  She also gives a few long awaited reviews. Books Mentioned in today's episode: Score by Kennedy Ryan Start With Yourself by Emma Grede Our Perfect Storm by Carly Fortune Beloved by Toni Morrison  The Missed Connection by Tia Wiliams The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston Games a Love Story By Anna maria Vilkova Whistler By Ann Patchett Rich and Rotten by Jahquel L The Lowe Job by Grace Alexander Jazz by Toni Morrison  Broken Dove by Dani Francis Into the Blue by Emma Brodie Fever Dream by Elsie Silver A Court of Thorns and Roses By Sarah J Maas The Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J Maas The Open Era By Edward Schmit  Reel by Kennedy Ryan  The Summer Reading Guide  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

Send us Fan Mail   Its offically summer reading season! Today on Pouring Over Books, LaShawn shares a preview of her summer reading guide, highlighting 28 books across various genres, and provides insights into her current reading list and favorites for the season. The 2026 FREE Complete Summer Reading Guide can be found Here.  Summer Guide Preview Books Score By Kennedy Ryan Yesteryear By Caro Claire Burke The Missed Connection Tia Williams Honey By Imani Thompson  The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson  No One’s Coming: The Rogue Heroes Our Government Turns to When There’s Nowhere Else to Turn by Kevin Hazzard Take what you can by namina decosta Other Books Mentioned in this episode: Broken Dove By Dani Francis Dolly All the Time by Anabelle Monoghan Rites of the Starling By Devney Perry Reel By Kennedy Ryan 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

Send us Fan Mail One of The questions most frequently asked of Lashawn ( as recently as last week) is how does she read multiple books at once? So in this episode re-run LaShawn shares her reading system, which allows her to read multiple titles simultaneously. The conversation also touches on the recent controversy surrounding digital ownership of Kindle books and Amazon's policies. LaShawn invites listeners to join the Pouring Over Books Club for a community reading experience. Links for this episode Colorsoft kindle The apple ipad mini The Way of Kings Brandon Sanderson Cher’s Memoir  Discovery of Witches By Deborah Harkness Mind till Midnight Lisa Kleypas  Cold hearted Rake Lisa Kleypas  Harry Potter and the Sourcer’s Stone By J.K. Rowling Bloodmarked By Tracey Deon Oathbound by Tracey Deon Can’t  get enough by Kenndy ryan.  Favorites By Layne Fargo Book Talk Etc podcast Throne of glass series by sarah j maas. 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