If you’re craving a book that channels the delicious, edge-of-your-seat thrill of those iconic ’90s psychological dramas — think The Hand That Rocks the Cradle or Single White Female — look no further. Jennifer Van Der Kleut’s debut, The Better Mother, delivers.

It’s unhinged in the best way, deliciously chaotic, and anchored by a lead villain you’ll absolutely love to hate. Tense, twisty, and dripping with nostalgia, this one feels like a late-night thriller you can’t turn off — but in book form.

I was so thrilled to welcome Jennifer to Books Are Chic to chat about her road to this sensational suspense novel. We talked about our favorite thrillers, how Blair Waldorf inspired the story, her persistence on the path to publication, and the Reddit thread that sparked it all. Conversations like this are why I love what I do — getting to peek behind the curtain of a story this juicy.

I truly can’t wait to see what’s next for Jennifer, because The Better Mother is one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

I’ve been collecting vintage Marilyn Monroe books since college (shoutout to Brattle Book Shop in Boston), so I was beyond thrilled to welcome Lynn Cullen to the show to talk about her latest novel, When We Were Brilliant. In this stunning work of historical fiction, Lynn illuminates the deeply authentic friendship between Marilyn Monroe and legendary photographer Eve Arnold.

The novel is as much about love and loyalty as it is about the cultural moments that shaped these women—many of which still resonate today. Lynn and I talked all things Marilyn, her inner life, the power of female friendships, old Hollywood, books… honestly, the list goes on.

I’m always here for a fabulous historical fiction read, and this one absolutely delivers. If you’ve been curious about dipping your toe into the genre, consider this episode—and this book—your sign. ✨📚

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.