#8 Jessica Guerrieri: Motherhood, Writing the Hard Stuff, and Depicting Addiction
The Everygirl Book ClubShow Notes
Jessica Guerrieri: Motherhood, Writing the Hard Stuff, and Depicting Addiction
The Everygirl Book Club hosts Garri and Lauren interview Jessica Guerrieri, author of Both Can Be True, the August pick, about her novel of estranged sisters Mer and Frankie reunited after a local woman, Brie, goes missing, exploring family secrets and “the many ways women can disappear in plain sight.” They share current reads, recent five-star books, and TBRs, and discuss algorithm-driven recommendations versus browsing bookstores. Guerrieri recounts her roots in a family of English majors, an influential high school teacher, and authors she admires, including Lily King and Barbara Kingsolver. She reflects on publishing, defining success, her sobriety journey, AA community, relapse portrayal, and themes of motherhood, neurodiversity, sisterhood, and identity. She previews her completed book three, The Inheritance of Worry, and book four, which she describes as The Wedding People meet Remarkable Creatures.
00:00 Welcome to Book Club 01:05 Read Receipts 16:51 Author Origin Story 22:20 Authors She Admires 26:45 What Publishing is Really Like 33:25 Taking Risks 38:12 Defining Success 40:19 Why This Book Hit 41:50 Building Both Can Be True’s Atmosphere 49:16 Motherhood In Many Forms 01:01:16 Sisterhood And Identity 01:08:57 Recovery And Relapse Truths 01:22:41 What's Next for Jessica 01:27:31 Farewell and Book Club Announcements
Books mentioned: Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri It's Different This Time by Joss Richard The Inheritance of Worry by Jessica Guerrieri Understory by Chloe Benjamin The Bee Sting by Paul Murray Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson Let's Kiss and Tell by Joss Richard Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert A Good Person by Kirsten King Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot
Join The Everygirl Book Club meetings August 27: Both Can Be True RSVP here Use code ‘EGAug26’ for 15% off your copy on Bookshop.org Use code ‘TEGBookClub’ for 30% off your copy on Libro.fm
September 3: A Good Person RSVP here Use code ‘EGBonus26’ for 15% off your copy on Bookshop.org Use code ‘TEGBookClub’ for 30% off your copy on Libro.fm
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