We raise a glass to 2024’s weirdest book news and most popular episode.

We’re ringing in the New Year Fully Booked–style, with our favorite festive tradition, the year in review. On this special episode, Kirkus contributing writer Michael Schaub joins editor-in-chief Tom Beer and me for a ribald recap of the strangest book news of 2024, followed by the unveiling of the year’s most popular episode.

Seen & Heard columnist Schaub serves as our charming Charon as we ford 2024’s river of rotted, riotous, nigh-unbelievable book news. Some of our strangest items include the lamentable bon mots of Anne Lamott, Nikki Haley’s tale of a nonconsensual name change, Miriam Margolyes’ impish imperative to Potterheads, Costco’s decision to stop selling books (because they ran out of room or something), and Bob Dylan rolling like a stone through the Frankfurt Book Fair.

We follow our garrulous gabfest with the announcement of the year’s most popular episode, featuring Elise Bryant. The author of It’s Elementaryshot to the top of the charts in November on our best fiction books episode. The decorated YA novelist’s first book for adults is a tantalizing mystery set in Southern California. “When a Southern California elementary school principal vanishes, an overworked single parent suspects a domineering PTA president of foul play,” Kirkus writes in a starred review of this “smart, funny novel that’s certain to make a splash.” We talked about main character Mavis Miller, PTA dynamics, humor, cozy mysteries, the forthcoming sequel to It’s Elementary, and so much more.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

Master of Music by Marla Himeda

Echoes of Fortune by David R. Leng

Fully Booked is produced by Cabel Adkins Audio and Megan Labrise.