Friends & Fiction

On this episode, Kristin Harmel, Patti Callahan Henry & Mary Kay Andrews welcome this month’s F&F Featured Authors, #1 NYT-bestselling novelist V.E. Schwab and screenwriter and YA author Cat Clarke to discuss their new locked-room thriller (co-written as Evelyn Clarke), The Ending Writes Itself, our April 2026 Pick of the Month, which Stephen King has proclaimed as “in the running for best mystery of 2026!” V.E. Schwab is a #1 New York Times bestselling author known for her genre-defying works like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and the Shades of Magic series. Cat Clarke is a screenwriter and author known...

For Easter week, we are re-airing one of our favorite episodes from the vault! Join us as Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry & Mary Kay Andrews talk to our own Kristin Harmel about her 2025 instant NYT-bestseller, The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau—about two jewel thieves, a priceless bracelet that disappears in 1940s Paris, and a quest for answers in a decades-old murder—which is out in paperback this week. One of the founders and hosts of Friends & Fiction, Kristin is the New York Times, USA Today, and #1 internationally bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including The Fore...

On this episode, the full F&F family — Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey & Patti Callahan Henry — gathers to welcome this month’s F&F Featured Authors, the #1 NYT-bestselling Virginia Evans to discuss her epistolary novel of connection and daring, The Correspondent, and the #1 NYT-bestselling Allen Levi to discuss his endearing story of anonymous generosity, Theo of Golden. These are our TWO March 2026 Picks of the Month in one fabulous double whammy episode! BOTH of these debut novels are #1 NYT-bestselling phenomena, BOTH are Katie Couric Book Club picks, and BOTH can attribute their overwhelming success to pure old-fa...

On this episode, the full F&F family — Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey & Patti Callahan Henry — gathers with Managing Director Meg Walker and Producer Shaun Hettinger for a special “just us” episode. We’ve got another F&F family episode of our show, but this time we are joined by our tech guru and #1 cabana boy Shaun for a super fun musical discussion. Shaun is a talented musician who has been in several bands and written lots of film scores and soundtracks. When he told us he has a new single dropping on March 20th (and a full alb...

On this episode, Kristy Woodson Harvey & Mary Kay Andrews welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author Lucy Score to discuss her new swoonworthy small town rom-com, Mistakes Were Made, which invites us back to Story Lake for a steamy escape full of emotional twists, slow-burn tension, and Lucy's trademark charm. Lucy Score is a #1 NYT-bestselling author who stumbled into her dream job after being fired one too many times. Known for her laugh-out-loud romances and fiercely loyal readers, she’s sold millions of books across the globe which have been translated into 31 languages and counting. When she’s not writing, Lucy...

On this episode, Mary Kay Andrews & Patti Callahan Henry welcome New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson to discuss her fast-paced new thriller, Missing Sister, a chilling story of sisters and revenge. Joshilyn is the author of eleven previous novels, including Gods in Alabama and Never Have I Ever. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. A former actor and an award-winning audiobook narrator, Joshilyn is a recent expat from the American South. She joins us from her new home in upstate New York to discuss Missing Sister, the book Karin Slaughter...

On this episode, Ron Block & Patti Callahan Henry welcome acclaimed author Terah Shelton Harris to discuss her new novel, Where the Wildflowers Grow, poignant story of survival and redemption that questions what it means to stop existing and start living. Terah is a former librarian who now writes upmarket fiction with bittersweet endings. She is the author of One Summer in Savannah and Long After We Are Gone. Her books have been chosen as a Target Book Club pick, LibraryReads pick, Kobo Best Book, Publishers Marketplace Buzz Book, and a Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for Best Debut. Terah was...

On this episode, the full F&F family — Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey & Patti Callahan Henry — gathers with Managing Director Meg Walker for a special “just us” episode. Consider this a throwback to the earlier days of Friends & Fiction when we wouldn’t always welcome an author guest every week and our hosts would occasionally just gather to have an off-the-cuff chat about what they’re reading and loving, what trends they’re seeing in the industry, and what’s happening in their busy author lives. On a week when the show would have been “dark” for a monthly break...

On this episode, Kristy Woodson Harvey & Kristin Harmel welcome preeminent journalist and royal biographer Omid Scobie and his National Book Award-winning co-author Robin Benway to discuss their much-anticipated novel, Royal Spin, in which they draw from their real world expertise to create an irresistibly entertaining story about a young American woman who takes a job at Buckingham Palace—where she finds herself tangled in a royal mess she might not be able to spin her way out of. Omid Scobie is a British journalist and NYT-bestselling author of Finding Freedom and Endgame, which have been published in more than 20 co...

On this episode, the full F&F family gathers to welcome this month’s F&F Featured Authors, the bestselling Janie Chang to discuss her haunting Gothic novel set in 1911 China, The Fourth Princess, and the NYT-bestselling Kate Quinn to discuss her gorgeously written fantastical adventure, The Astral Library. These are our TWO February 2026 Picks of the Month in one fabulous double whammy episode! Janie Chang is a Globe and Mail bestselling author of historical fiction that often draws from her family history and ancestral stories. She is the author of Three Souls, Dragon Springs Road, The Library of Le...

On this episode, the full F&F family gathers to welcome this month’s F&F Featured Author, the NYT-bestselling Paula McLain, to discuss our January 2026 Pick of the Month, her new mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below, Skylark, in which a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time. Paula McLain is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels, including The Paris Wife, Circling the Sun, and Love and Ruin, as well as two...

On this episode, Ron Block & Mary Kay Andrews welcome USA Today bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto to discuss her new claustrophobic psychological suspense novel Read Between the Lies in which the line between victim and villain blurs with every chapter. Because in the end, everyone has their own version of the truth--but only one will make it onto the page. Jesse is the Edgar Award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties, The Obsession, Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, and Well, That Was Unexpected. The film rights to Dial...

On this episode, Mary Kay Andrews & Kristy Woodson Harvey welcome New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz to discuss her enthralling new romantic suspense novel, The Shop on Hidden Lane which is filled with deeply entrenched grudges, psychic dangers, and a conspiracy that threatens not only two families but also the entire paranormal community. Jayne is the author of more than 50 NYT bestsellers. She uses three different pen names for each of her “worlds.” As Jayne Ann Krentz (her married name) she writes contemporary romantic-suspense. She uses Amanda Quick for her novels of historical romantic-suspense. Jayne Castle (her birt...

On this episode, Kristin Harmel & Ron Block welcome #1 bestselling author Brad Meltzer on our first show of the new year to discuss The Viper, the brand-new installment in his thrilling Zig and Nola series which unravels a shocking cold case with a personal—and deadly—twist. Brad Meltzer is the Emmy-nominated, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod and twelve other bestselling thrillers. He also writes nonfiction books like The JFK Conspiracy, and the Ordinary People Change the World kids’ book series. One of the co-creators of the TV show, “Jack & Bobby,” Brad is also the host of “Brad M...

For New Year's week, we are re-airing one of our favorite episodes from the vault! Join us as the Fab Four — Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey & Patti Callahan Henry — talk to reigning queen of the modern romance novel, Emily Henry, about her 2024 No.1 NYT-bestselling FUNNY STORY. Emily Henry is the author of four YA novels and, since 2020, she has published six NYT-bestselling rom-coms for adults (including BEACH READ, BOOK LOVERS, and HAPPY PLACE), with five of them being adapted for the big and small screens. In April 2024 Emily joined us to discuss FUNNY STORY, a shimmering, joyf...

For Christmas week, we are re-airing one of our favorite episodes from the vault! Join us as the Fab Four — Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey & Patti Callahan Henry — talk to #1 bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid about her blockbuster 2021 novel MAILUBU RISING, a NYT-bestseller and Read with Jenna Book Club Pick.Taylor's books have been chosen by Reese’s Book Club, Read with Jenna, Indie Next, Best of Amazon, and Book of the Month. Taylor is the author of nine novels, including DAISY JONES AND THE SIX, which was adapted by Hello Sunshine as a limited series for Am...

On this episode, Mary Kay Andrews & Ron Block welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author, Jacquelyn Mitchard, to discuss The Birdwatcher, her page-turning drama that explores the beauty of female friendship; the relationship between money, power, and sex; and the very human desire to protect the ones we love most. Jacquelyn Mitchard is the award-winning, NYT-bestselling author of twelve novels for adults, seven novels for teenagers, and five children's books. These include The Deep End of the Ocean, the inaugural selection of the Oprah Winfrey Book Club with more than 3-million copies in print in 34 languages. She is also a...

On this episode, Mary Kay Andrews & Patti Callahan Henry welcome New York Times bestselling author, Ace Atkins, to discuss his rollicking comedic thriller, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, set in 1985 in which a suburban teen suspects his mom’s new boyfriend is the ultimate bad guy—a KGB agent. Ace Atkins is an award-winning, NYT-bestselling author of more than thirty novels and numerous short stories and, in 2011, was tapped by the estate of Robert B. Parker to continue his beloved Spenser series. A former college football player at Auburn University (where he was part of the undefeated 1993 team, appe...

On this episode, Kristin Harmel, Patti Callahan Henry & Mary Kay Andrews welcome this month’s F&F Featured Author, the internationally renowned, award-winning, NYT-bestselling author John Irving, to discuss our December 2025 Pick of the Month, Queen Esther, which returns us after forty years to the world of his bestselling classic novel and Academy Award-winning film, The Cider House Rules. John Irving is an icon of American letters and the acclaimed author of more than 20 books which have been translated into more than 35 languages. His works include the National Book Award winning cultural phenomenon The World According to Garp; The Ci...

For Thanksgiving week we are re-airing one of our favorite episodes from the vault! Join us as Kristin Harmel & Patti Callahan Henry talk to #1 bestselling author Louise Penny about her Fall 2024 novel The Grey Wolf, the 19th installment in her wildly successful Armand Gamache mystery series. Louise Penny is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Globe and Mail bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She was also the co-author with Hillary Rodham Clinton of the #1 New York Times bestselling thriller State of Terror. In October 2024, Kristin & Patti enjoyed a warm and insightful chat with Louise...